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  • “LEMMY FOREVER” STOKE ON TRENT STATUE UNVEILING ON 9 MAY

    “LEMMY FOREVER” STOKE ON TRENT CEREMONY AND STATUE UNVEILING ON 9 MAY

    Organizers announce details of the celebrations

    On Friday, May 9 , one of Burslem’s most famous sons—Motörhead founder and bassist/vocalist Lemmy Kilmister —will be honored and immortalized once again at the ” Lemmy Forever”Stoke-on-Trentceremony . With Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell in attendance, who will place Lemmy’s ashes in a magnificent statue by local sculptor and huge Motörhead fan Andy Edwards , it’s set to be a day full of fun, friends, and, most of all, noise. The ceremony will begin at approximately 4 p.m. in Burslem town center . Friends are welcome to arrive early and enjoy a fun day out by enjoying some Motörhead drinks before the ceremony in the various adjacent public houses, including the Old Post Office Bar and the Ale House. The Market Place Café will also be offering refreshments, including a special Motörhead roast of the day. Ceremonial festivities include a biker parade to accompany the ashes, various speakers, and a thunderous 21-rev salute fired into the sky in solemn reverence! The statue itself depicts Lemmy in all his live glory from 1981, when Motörhead headlined Heavy Metal Holocaust just down the road at Port Vale Stadium on August 1, 1981.

    Here are some more details about what visitors can expect and what services will be offered on the day:

    The Bare Walls Art Gallery next to the statue is hosting an installation with rarely seen photos of Lemmy and other memorabilia.

    Later in the evening, Grumpy’s Bar will host “A Night of Music to Celebrate the Life of Lemmy” with Motörhead tribute band Motörwrecked . There will also be an auction featuring exclusive items provided by Motörhead’s record label and merchandise companies. The auction is virtually sold out, but a very limited number of wristbands have been reserved for fans on the day. These will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from the event office in the Old Post Office Bar on the day of the event and cost £10. No sleep til Grumpy’s! https://www.grumpys.uk
    The Old Post Office will also feature exclusive merchandise.

    Music Mania is also hosting an event at the Mitchell Arts Centre in Hanley from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM featuring the Motörhead tribute band Motörheadache . Tickets cost £18. Further information is available at https://musicmaniauk.com/event/motorheadache/

    For those arriving by car, parking is available at Port Vale Football Club, a 7-minute walk away. For those arriving by train, Ace Taxis are available to transport fans from the station to the event on 01782 822228.

    For those needing accommodation, the DoubleTree by Hilton Stoke-On-Trent offers special rates through Lemmy2025 rates.
    Simply call +44 1782 609988 or visit https://hil.tn/0mcah9 .

    MOTÖRHEAD online:
    https://imotorhead.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMotorhead/
    https://twitter.com/myMotorhead
    https://www.instagram.com/officialmotorhead/
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbPCDmtTU-W4SdA8abZtWpA

  • Chasing Stars Takes On Justin Bieber’s “Ghost” and Crushes it!

    In this remake of Ghost, we wanted to capture the raw ache of missing someone who once felt like home — the kind of absence that lingers in every quiet moment. This version strips everything down to the emotion at its core, turning pain into melody and longing into something beautiful. It’s a tribute not only to those we’ve lost, but to the memories that never truly leave us. I hope listeners can find a piece of their own healing in this version, the way we found ours while creating it.

    Watch the Video Below and See the Band at Rawk The River Festival This June!

    #rockrageradio #curtaincallrecords

  • MAMMOTH – ‘THE END’ // Wolfgang Van Halen returns with brand new single and ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ themed video filled with huge cameos

    MAMMOTH

    Concept for the music video was created by Wolfgang and legendary director Robert Rodriguez and features monster effects by icon Greg Nicotero

    Music video featuring cameos by Danny Trejo, Slash, Myles Kennedy,

    Valerie Bertinelli and the MAMMOTH live band can be seen here

    See Wolfgang with Black Sabbath in Birmingham on July 5th

    GRAMMY® Award-nominated songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen is back with the latest single from the band he masterminds, Mammoth. “The End” is an adrenaline-driven rocker that kicks off with a signature lead guitar riff that has become a fan-favorite element in Wolfgang’s music. The anthemic build of the intro gives way to the driving verse melody with each part carefully created and performed by Van Halen and his returning collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette. The chorus is driven by the unforgettable vocal melody as the message of “Take your hand in mine and watch the end with me.” The song is now available for pre-save via all digital service providers here.

    “I’ve had the tapping idea on the intro for ‘The End’ since before Mammoth. I was able to fit it into this world. It’s still over-the-top and shreddy, but it’s also melodic and controlled. Overall, I was doing some different things on the record, and I knew this was going to be a big step. Once we finished ‘The End,’ it felt really special to me,” explains Wolfgang Van Halen.

    To coincide with the single release, Wolfgang and Mammoth have released a music video for “The End” that is one for the history books and something rarely seen in music videos anymore. Wolfgang teamed up with legendary director Robert Rodriguez to do a modern-day interpretation of Rodriguez’s 1996 hit film, From Dusk Till Dawn. The video tells the story of a rock band that is booked to play a show at a dive bar and given an ominous warning from the club owner portrayed by Danny Trejo. Mammoth decides they know better, and things quickly turn dire for the band before a surprising revelation during the final moments tie the complete video lore from the band together. Friends of Mammoth including Slash, Myles Kennedy and Wolfgang’s mother Valerie Bertinelli all show up throughout the short film. Horror effects icon Greg Nicotero offered his talents to the video to create zombies, werewolves and vampires that all bring a deadly end to the attendees of the show. The music video for “The End” can be seen here. 

    After a whirlwind two years supporting the likes of Metallica, Pantera, Foo Fighters, Alter Bridge, Halestorm, Creed among many more, along with headline dates in addition to major festivals the world over, Mammoth will embark on another American trek this summer and autumn. Wolfgang also returns to the UK this July for the final Black Sabbath show in Birmingham on 5th July at Villa Park. More information on all tickets and VIP passes can be found at www.mammoth.band.

    GRAMMY® Award-nominated songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen continues to separate Mammoth from the pack. The music stands alone on a foundation anchored by his impressive sonic proficiency (across drums, bass, keys, and guitar) and airtight arena-size hooks with unforgettable vocals. He harbors an irresistible signature sound, inventive vision, and incomparable identity vaunted by a fervent global fanbase. For as unique as the music is, his story so far proves to be just as unprecedented. This is arguably the first hard rock act to genuinely break out from ground zero in the 2020’s, generating north of 100 million streams, toppling charts, and selling out headline tours less than five years since its debut. Back in 2021, Mammoth’s first offering, Mammoth WVH, took flight, bowing at #12 on the Billboard 200 and capturing #1 on three Billboard charts—Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Independent Albums, and Top Rock Albums. “Distance” soared as the first of two #1 Rock Radio Hits and earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Rock Song.” Two years later, Mammoth II only saw him pick up the pace. It debuted in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart in addition to bringing him back to #1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums Chart. It incited widespread applause from Rolling Stone, Guitar World, GRAMMY.com, Classic Rock, American Songwriter, and KERRANG! The band canvased the globe with Metallica and Pantera and supported Foo Fighters in North America as well as filling houses on their own. They performed on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, at MusiCares 2024 gala in honor of Jon Bon Jovi, and Wolf took the stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Induction of Ozzy Osbourne. Now, Wolfgang pushes forward on Mammoth’s third full-length LP.

    Website: www.mammothwvh.com

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MammothWVH

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mammothwvh/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/MammothWVH

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MammothWVH

    www.rockrageradio.com

    #rockrageradio

  • DISPATCH Announces 9th Studio Album ‘Yellow Jacket’ Alongside New Single “Whisk Me Away”


    Releases New Single “Whisk Me Away”
    PRESS HERE TO LISTEN  
    & Announces Ninth Studio Album Yellow Jacket Out June 6 PRESS HERE TO PRE-ORDER  
    Summer Tour 2025 Kicks Off June 3
    Featuring John Butler (with Band) +
    G. Love & Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter and
    Illiterate Light on Select Dates
    PRESS HERE For Tickets & More Information

    (Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez | PRESS HERE To Download Hi-Res Assets)
    NEW YORK, NY – April 30, 2025 – Celebrated folk-rock band DISPATCH has released their new single “Whisk Me Away” (PRESS HERE to listen) alongside the announcement of their forthcoming ninth studio album Yellow Jacket, out June 6 via Bomber Records/AWAL Recordings.  

    “Whisk Me Away” dives into deep themes of life’s fragility and redemption, capturing the raw urgency of a desperate plea to not be taken from this earth just yet. Towards its emotional peak, the refrain – “feel alive again, feel alive again, feel alive again” – rings out like both a cry and a celebration, anchoring the track in hope, revival and the stubborn will to keep going. Musically, the track serves as a standout moment for the band, blending a Southern rock spirit with a folk-rooted rhythm that moves the body as much as the heart. Twin lead guitars – reminiscent of the Allman Brothers – duel and dance over driving drums and rich instrumentals, building a sound that’s both expansive and intimate. The single also marks a first for the band, as longtime member Matt Embree takes the spotlight with a powerful lead-vocal performance, adding a new texture to DISPATCH’s evolving sound. It’s a bold, electrifying addition to their legacy – one that continues to explore human experience with introspection and unshakable groove.  

    The band returned “home” to Boston to record and produce nearly all of Yellow Jacket with Craig Welsch at Rear Window Studios, and the 11-song collection of music harkens back to the infectious blend of reggae, ska and roots rock that built the band’s heralded career and dedicated fanbase.  

    “For us, this album is a way to acknowledge what our culture is facing and the effects of the abuse of power,” said Chadwick Stokes. “In this album, you’ll find the effects war has on family in “Johnny Whoops,” the complexity and brilliance of Emily Dickinson’s words in “Trinket (ft. John Butler),” and we pay homage to the great activists of our time alongside Ani DiFranco on “In the Street,” as a reminder of how crucial it is to not sit back idly. But mostly, our goal with this album is for listeners to enjoy the tunes in whatever way, hopefully at times collectively, and in community.”  

    DISPATCH will kick off their Summer Tour 2025 alongside John Butler (with band) + special guests G. Love & Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter and Illiterate Light (select dates) on June 3 in St. Augustine, Florida, and make stops in major markets including Chicago, New York City, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco and more (full routing can be found below). The mammoth 35-date outing is on sale now – PRESS HERE for tickets and more information.  

    Throughout their rise, the band has taken every opportunity to use their success for good, launching charitable organizations to fight inequality and mass incarceration, raising funds and awareness for environmental causes, schools and hospitals on the road, and even traveling as far afield as Zimbabwe to work with children and communities in need. Chadwick Stokes’ Calling All Crows joins bands and fans together in collective activism that has raised more than half a million dollars for feminist movements, while Brad Corrigan’s Love Light + Melody helps amplify the stories of children who live in extreme poverty.  

    Ileana’s Smile, the award-winning documentary film directed by Corrigan, which will be released worldwide next month, is an inspiring story of a girl who endures life in a trash dump in Managua, Nicaragua, and the devastating choices she faces. The film is being released to raise awareness for child vulnerability and to fund Ileana’s School of Hope – ensuring that every child is safe to flourish and has a chance to write their own story. The film also features the original DISPATCH song “Darker Light” (out May 23). For more information, please PRESS HERE.  

    Stokes’ has written a new Rock Opera called 1972. Still in the workshop phase, it’s the story of a 19-year-old pregnant woman named Hannah who flees an abusive relationship and joins a band of outcasts jumping freight trains across America. Hannah’s harrowing journey ultimately leads her to the “Janes,” the underground network of courageous women who took extreme risks to provide solace, hope and care to women in complicated times. Some influential women are involved in the development of 1972 including Jessie Nelson (Waitress) is directing, and the musical is co-produced by Stokes’ Calling All Crows Co-Founder Sybil Gallagher, Dori Berinstein (Stereophonic, Legally Blonde) and activist Laurie David (Fed Up, An Inconvenient Truth). After short runs in New York, Boston and Chicago, including a three-night, sold-out stint at Joe’s Pub, an upcoming workshop performance is planned for NY’s The Cutting Room on May 21. PRESS HERE for tickets and more information.  

    Formed by Chadwick Stokes and Brad Corrigan while in college in Vermont, DISPATCH has forged their own path outside the mainstream music industry as one of the most successful artists in the roots rock scene. Over the course of a slew of acclaimed studio and live albums and countless tours and festivals, the band has gone on to become one of biggest success stories in independent music history, selling out three nights at Madison Square Garden and drawing over 100,000 fans to a massive outdoor show in their adopted hometown of Boston without any traditional radio or major label support.
    For more information, please visit www.dispatchmusic.com.
    (Yellow Jacket Album Art)
    YELLOW JACKET TRACK LISTING
    Yellow Jacket
    Whisk Me Away
    Trinket (ft. John Butler)
    The Night Young
    Everyone’s In the Street (ft. Ani DiFranco)
    Johnny Whoops
    Flood
    The Moon and The Seven Seas
    Hush Money
    Tulsa Picnic
    Darker Light  

    SUMMER TOUR 2025 DATES
    June 3 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre *
    June 5 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy *
    June 6 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre *
    June 7 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater *
    June 8 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion *
    June 10 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront *
    June 12 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome *
    June 13 – North Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery *
    June 14 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Yards Amphitheater *
    June 17 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center *
    June 18 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park ^
    June 21 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival %
    June 22 – Minneapolis, MN – Surly Brewing Festival Field #
    June 24 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park *
    June 26 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre *
    June 27 – Cleveland Heights, OH – Cain Park Evans Amphitheater ^
    June 28 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met *
    June 29 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater *
    July 1 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 *
    July 3 – Portland, ME – Thompson’s Point *
    July 4 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage *
    July 5 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap *
    July 24 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre *
    July 25 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan *
    July 26 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Pacific Amphitheatre *
    July 27 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic *
    July 29 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Festival Pavilion +
    July 31 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
    August 1 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Live *
    August 2 – Sandpoint, ID – The Festival at Sandpoint *
    August 3 – Bonner-West Riverside, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater *
    August 5 – Salt Lake City, UT – TBA *
    August 7 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
    August 8 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater #  
    * w/ John Butler with Band + G. Love & Special Sauce + Donavon Frankenreiter
    ^ w/ John Butler with Band + G. Love & Special Sauce
    % w/ John Butler with Band + Donavon Frankenreiter
    # w/ John Butler with Band + Donavon Frankenreiter + Illiterate Light
    + w/ Donavon Frankenreiter, No John Butler with Band  

    UPCOMING FESTIVAL DATES
    June 15 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
    June 20 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
    July 13 – Marshfield, MA @ Levitate Music and Arts Festival
    November 4-8 – Soulshine at Sea 3 – Miami, FL (to Cozumel, Mexico)
    FOLLOW DISPATCH Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

  • Legendary Heavy Metal Supergroup DOWN Signs To Nuclear Blast Records New Music To See Release Next Year

    Legendary Heavy Metal Supergroup DOWN Signs To Nuclear Blast Records New Music To See Release Next Year

    Photo by MetalDave Media

    Legendary heavy metal supergroup DOWN – featuring vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower, and bassist Pat Bruders – is pleased to announce their official signing with Nuclear Blast Records! The band is currently in the final stages of recording their long-awaited new full-length, slated for release in 2026.

    In a collective statement, Nuclear Blast comments, “Nuclear Blast is proud to be in the trenches with NOLA legends DOWN as their partner in their long overdue return to the metal world. In addition, we are excited to bring some of their key past catalogue releases back into the spotlight, especially on the vinyl side. There are so many longtime DOWN fans at Nuclear Blast who are excited to be working with one of their all-time favourite bands. 2026 can’t come soon enough!”

    Adds the band:

    “It’s good to sign with Nuclear Blast Records. It’s a good label home and we’re ready to make some awesome recordings!” – Philip H. Anselmo

    “Having already been a part of the Nuclear Blast family with Corrosion Of Conformity, it is an honour and a privilege to be here as well with my brothers in DOWN. The team at Nuclear Blast is a well-oiled machine and you can definitely tell they love what they do. We are in the right place.” – Pepper Keenan

    “Nuclear Blast is a great label that put out some excellent records. It’s an honour to have them work our jams!” – Jimmy Bower

    Updates on new DOWN music will be unveiled in the months to come.

    You know it’s DOWN as soon as you hear them. There’s no mistaking those gargantuan riffs, swamp blues leads, crashing drums, and hypnotic howls for absolutely anybody else under the sun. The band upholds a certain tradition that countless fans celebrate, expanding their own musical mythos as they leave its pillars intact and untouched.

    With a collective resume encompassing Pantera, Corrosion Of Conformity, Crowbar, and EyeHateGod, the quintet puffed out its first haze of sonic smoke from the belly of gritty old New Orleans on the 1995 platinum-selling classic, NOLA. At that moment, they naturally summoned something akin to a ritual, continually partaking in it with critically revered offerings — Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow in 2002, Down III: Over The Under in 2007, Down IV – Part One in 2012, and Down IV – Part Two in 2014. Their shows built a certain live lore with unforgettable runs alongside Metallica and Heaven & Hell, as well as coveted spots on iconic festivals like Download, Soundwave, Ozzfest, and so many others, forever delivering passionate, powerful, pure heavy music you can feel deep down in your soul.

    http://www.down-nola.com
    http://www.facebook.com/down
    http://www.instagram.com/down_nola