News

In a new interview with the "Rock & Roll Beer Guy" podcast, STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos reflected on the passing of the band's frontman Wayne Static nearly six years ago. Wayne died after mixing Xanax and other powerful prescription drugs with alcohol, according to the coroner's report. The 48-year-old Static, whose real name was Wayne Richard Wells, was found dead in his Landers, California home on November 1, 2014. Campos said (see video below): "I don't wanna dwell on that stuff. It was just a really bad time for the band and for myself personally. Long story short, the band fell apart. Wayne got really involved with drugs and he got addicted and, unfortunately, it cost him his life. "You can't help someone that doesn't wanna be helped. You can do whatever you think will help, but if the person doesn't want help, they're not gonna take it," he continued. "Unfortunately, Wayne wasn't the first friend I lost because of drug addiction, so it was just like seeing it happen all over again to somebody else that I'm close with. And it sucks every time." Asked if he is now a strong advocate against drug use as a result of his experiences, Campos said: "No, I'm not. I've always had the position of, 'Do whatever you want, but if it starts getting in the way of what you have to do, then you need to start rethinking your priorities.' I got to a point with alcohol where it was starting to affect my performances on stage, and I had to dial it back. And now I'm just old, and I can't handle hangovers anymore, so I've gotta dial it way back now." According to Tony, it's "so easy" for touring musicians to "get caught up" in drinking and drugging while out on the road. "When you, as an audience member, go to a show, you may go to a show once, twice, three times a week, maybe, tops," he explained. "For us, as musicians, we're doing this every night, so in every town, there's somebody new going, 'Hey, man. Have a drink. Smoke this. Do a line of this.' And when you do that every day, it catches up to you, man. "The only thing I ever did was drink and smoke weed," Campos revealed. "I stay away from cocaine, just 'cause I tried crack once when I was 13, and I didn't like it. And that was it. I'm, like, yeah, I'm not gonna do any more coke after that. I guess I got lucky that I avoided that pitfall. And I've seen lots of friends get hooked on that and ruin their lives. It's easy to get caught up in that shit," he repeated. Static founded STATIC-X in 1994 and achieved commercial success with the band's debut album, "Wisconsin Death Trip", which included the rock radio hit "Push It". The group issued five more studio albums before disbanding permanently in June 2013. Static had been pursuing a solo career at the time of his death. STATIC-X's latest album "Project Regeneration Vol. 1", came out in July. The first of two volumes, it features 12 brand new tracks, containing many of the final vocal performances and musical compositions of Static, along with the original "Wisconsin Death Trip" lineup of Campos, drummer Ken Jay, and guitarist Koichi Fukuda. Both volumes are being worked on by longtime STATIC-X producer Ulrich Wild.

Swedish metallers HAMMERFALL will release a new live set, "Live! Against The World", on October 23 via Napalm Records. A performance video of the song "Keep The Flame Burning", taken from the effort, can be seen below. With an absolutely impressive, grand live production, huge arenas and overwhelming pyro shows, HAMMERFALL took over the world in 2019/2020 with its "World Dominion" tour. Now, they make their splendor available to every Templar around the globe. Recorded on February 15 at the MHP Arena in Ludwigsburg, Germany, "Live! Against The World" contains songs fresh off HAMMERFALL's latest album, "Dominion", mixed with a ton of band classics and a hand-picked selection of songs that rarely appear on HAMMERFALL's setlists to fulfill the needs of both new and old fans. HAMMERFALL did not only celebrate the great chart success of "Dominion", but also the 20th anniversary of its "Renegade" album with a phenomenal medley during the nearly two-hour-long concert. The show had everyone on their feet and banging their heads within no time and marks one of the many unforgettable evenings of pure Swedish heavy metal in the legendary HAMMERFALL manner. Singer Joacim Cans comments: "I am so damn proud that we are able to present a full blown, up-to-date, live show in these extremely difficult times. A time when real live shows in front of a 'real' live audience have ceased to exist. "The show at MHP Arena Ludwigsburg was nothing but epic and really captured the strength and power of the band as a live act and shows the joy we are experiencing together on stage every night, no matter where we play. This is the biggest stage production we ever had and now you can experience this at home anywhere, at any time. "HAMMERFALL is and always will be a live band and together with the greatest fans in the world we are an unstoppable force!” Guitarist Oscar Dronjak adds: "The live act that HAMMERFALL is right now blows everything we have done previously out of the water, and I am super happy that we got to document it in this way on the biggest tour we have ever done. "The setlist speaks for itself — every album is represented with at least one song; there's stuff we have never performed live before, songs we haven't played in a long time and of course all the classics. It's a great testament to where we stand today, and an added bonus is that we finally got to record something major in Germany, in front of the fans who have been with us literally since day one." "Live! Against The World" starts off with the smashing song and first single "Never Forgive, Never Forget", fresh from "Dominion". The Swedish heavy metal institution presents itself in top shape and starts the show in Ludwigsburg, Germany with a big bang — they take the screaming templars by storm. This absolutely impressively produced live version of one of their biggest new hits marked one of the highlights of the legendary show at the MHP Arena. Adding in classics like "Any Means Necessary", "Last Man Standing" and "Let The Hammer Fall" that show off HAMMERFALL's legendary prowess on both vocals and instruments, the performance continues on to be both surprising and astounding. Special guest Noora Louhimo (BATTLE BEAST) made it possible for HAMMERFALL to display their emotional side with their power ballad "Second To One" live on stage. The show ends with the one song that belongs in every HAMMERFALL experience: the beautiful and heavy "Hearts On Fire". "Live! Against The World" will be available in the following formats: - Blu-ray + 2 CD Digipak - 3 LP Gatefold Vinyl Ink Spot Blue / White - 3 LP Gatefold Vinyl Orange Transparent - 48-page Earbook, including 2CDs + Blu-ray - Digital album Track listing: 01. Never Forgive, Never Forget 02. One Against The World 03. Heeding The Call 04. The Way Of The Warrior 05. Any Means Necessary 06. Hallowed Be My Name 07. Blood Bound 08. Redemption 09. Hector's Hymn 10. Natural High 11. Second To One 12. Renegade Medley 13. Keep The Flame Burning 14. Dominion 15. The Dragon Lies Bleeding 16. Last Man Standing 17. Let The Hammer Fall 18. Hammer High 19. (We Make) Sweden Rock 20. Hearts On Fire HAMMERFALL is: Joacim Cans - Vocals Oscar Dronjak - Guitar Pontus Norgren - Guitar Fredrik Larsson - Bass David Wallin - Drums

In a recent interview with DEATH ANGEL's Ted Aguilar, SEPULTURA's Andreas Kisser once again recalled his experience auditioning for METALLICA as James Hetfleld's temporary replacement (on guitar only) while James recovered from being burned onstage back in 1992. He said: "What a privilege, man. Phil Rind from SACRED REICH, very good friends from [then-METALLICA bassist] Jason Newsted. And me and Phil Rind, of course, were good friends — SACRED REICH and SEPULTURA were touring together during 'Arise' — and we love METALLICA. Me and Phil, we always loved METALLICA. I remember we were the only ones, maybe, that were defending the 'black' album when it came out… The more 'thrashy' people [said], 'Ah, METALLICA sold out,' whatever. And me and Phil were always defending METALLICA. "I love to play covers," he continued. "That's how I learned how to play guitar, electric guitar, with the power chords and leads and stuff. And METALLICA is one of my best features, let's say, especially to play the right hand, the thrash metal. Phil Rind knew that I could play a lot of METALLICA, but to play with METALLICA is something else. [Laughs] It was, like, the pressure… And it's so different, of course. You go with your friends in your practice room and you play 'Seek & Destroy' — yeah, it's fine. And then you go there and you see Lars [Ulrich]: 'All right. No 'Seek & Destroy'. Let's play 'The Shortest Straw'.' [Laughs] Then we did it. I mean, 'The Shortest Straw', 'One', 'Nothing Else Matters', 'Enter Sandman'… Oh, man. It give me goosebumps only to remember. And I was so welcomed there. Jason Newsted, of course, called me. 'Hey, we are in Denver, Colorado. We have the setup here at the arena. And we are trying out everyone.' [Guitarists from] METALLICA cover bands and friends and everything… Which I thought was fantastic. METALLICA is huge because they are huge in every respect — their attitude. They really looked for every type of possibility. Even myself, a guitar player from Brazil." Kisser added: "I took the plane by myself with my Charvel guitar. I went to Colorado. There was a limousine waiting for me with my name, and then I went straight to the arena to the practice room. The first one I saw was Kirk Hammett: 'Hey, you came from Brazil. Are you all right, man?' [Laughs] And then I was listening to some guys playing, and I was next. I came in, and I played so calm. It was so weird. Because they really let me feel at home. And I played 'Enter Sandman', I think, was the first one. And it was perfect. Even the crew people said, 'Wow! We were listening from outside. We felt that the band was doing the practice.' And then I stayed for the final, for the next day. It was me and John Marshall" — METAL CHURCH guitarist and onetime METALLICA roadie, who had already filled in before when James broke his arm skateboarding — "only, which I felt was a big victory for me, even though I didn't get the job. But the songs from the 'black' album were still very new for me. 'Unforgiven', a lot of details that I didn't know how to perform and stuff. And John Marshall was ready. [He is] an American, and they're all friends and stuff. But they actually had a meeting after the rehearsals. So it was really close — it was really, really close that I didn't get the possibility to tour with them and GUNS N' ROSES. And FAITH NO MORE was opening; the tour was amazing. But it was one of the best experiences of my life. And still nowadays, we're friends. It's fantastic." In the end, METALLICA ended up using Marshall once again, with Hetfield handling lead vocals at all dates while sporting an arm-length bandage. Nearly four years ago, Kisser was asked by Metal Temple magazine for his opinion of METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct". He responded: "I love it, man. I think it's the best work they did in a few years. Of course, they took so many years to release an album, but I like this better than 'Death Magnetic'. I think it feels a little more loose. It feels that they are enjoying themselves and they're really writing music with no other stuff in their heads — just really enjoying themselves as musicians and as a band. And it's really great." He continued: "METALLICA is a fantastic band, man. They still influence so many people. And the way they put out the album — one video clip for each song. It's amazing, you know — so inspiring. And it's great. They deserve everything. They still are the biggest metal band in the world, and they're gonna keep their way for a long time, I guess."

DEEP PURPLE bassist Roger Glover was the featured guest on BBC's "The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker" during the "Rock God" segment. Glover picked Gary Moore and stated about his choice: "When we had the reunion in 1984 — DEEP PURPLE, that is — Paicey [PURPLE drummer Ian Paice] came in — he'd been with the Gary Moore band for a couple of years, or several years — and he said, 'Gary Moore's gonna be huge one day. He's brilliant.' And I'd never thought about it. I was aware of him, of course, in THIN LIZZY and stuff, but I never thought about it much until he moved to America where I was living at the time. Not only moved to America, but he moved one road away from me. I had a little studio there in my house, and I helped him do a demo, 'Cold Day In Hell'. After about a year, he decided to move back to England, but he had nowhere to stay for the last night, so he and his family stayed in my house. He came down to the studio and he said, 'What are you up to?' So I was playing him a song — a very simple chord sequence, with just drums and bass — and he said, 'Oh, would you like some guitar on it?' I said, 'Well, yeah.' And the next day, about an hour before the limo came to take him to the airport, he reminded me, he said, 'Oh, did you want some guitar on that song?' I said, 'Oh, yeah. Okay.' He played three versions — three takes, I should say — of the song without having heard it before — it was just a chord sequence to him — and somehow he plucked a beautiful melody. I sat there and listened to what he had done, and I was just blown away with the power of his fingers. I picked up a guitar and tried to bend the notes like he had, and there was no way I could do it. And he does it with such pitch control and such feeling. I mean, I had a whole new respect for Gary." He continued: "Since that day, which is a long time ago now, it's rested on my computer, and I will be releasing it one day. One day, I will release an album of studio bits and pieces and demos that I did, and it'll be included on that. We worked together since then a few times, and he was just an absolute force of nature when it came to playing the guitar. Very underrated. And I'd love to have worked more with him." Moore passed away in his sleep on February 6, 2011, hours after checking into the five-star Kempinski Hotel in Estepona on the Costa del Sol, Spain with a female friend. He reportedly suffered a heart attack brought on by a massive amount of alcohol he consumed prior to being found dead in bed. Moore made a name for himself in the late 1960s with the Dublin-based SKID ROW, before following bass player Phil Lynott in 1974 to play with classic rockers THIN LIZZY. Throughout his career, Moore recorded numerous solo albums, and shared the stage with the likes of B.B. King, Albert King, Jack Bruce, Albert Collins and George Harrison.

A 10-minute video in which KORN bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizuand vocalist/guitarist Anthony "Q-Unique" Quilessit down for an in-depth look at their band STILLWELL can be seen below. STILLWELL, which also features P.O.D. drummer Noah "Wuv" Bernardo, has just released its third album, "Supernatural Miracle". The official lyric video for the disc's first single, "Gasoline", can be seen below. "Supernatural Miracle" finds STILLWELL reconciling its eclectic and storied musical backgrounds, and highlighting the similarities between each member's celebrated careers. "With this new album, STILLWELL sounds like one band instead of past albums where it feels like three or four different bands," Bernardo explains. "With Q on guitar, it enabled us to be more cohesive with sound and direction." "We intentionally made sure to not sound like the other bands we're a part of, out of respect, integrity and just wanting to push ourselves creatively," says Arvizu. "If people want to hear KORN, P.O.D. or the 10 bands Q works with, they can just listen to those, STILLWELL is its own thing. We put together what I think is our best work yet." Drawing on STILLWELL's past albums — "Raise It Up" (2015) and "Dirtbag" (2011) — "Supernatural Miracle" serves as the culmination of years' worth of finding their voice. With this release, these musical legends are sure to give you a fresh new look at who they are apart from their histories, but together as a collective. "I feel like this album was a major crossroad for all of us," says Q-Unique. "Wuv and Fieldy gave me the space to step up with the guitar, and then to have the opportunity to write these songs together was extremely surreal for me. It's one of the reasons why we called the album 'Supernatural Miracle'. To make a long story short, everything fell into place, from writing, recording, schedules, videos and artwork. This album has been a smooth journey."

EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has paid tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday (September 18) due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. She was 87. On Sunday (September 20), Nuno took to his Instagram to write: "NOTORIOUS RBG "It is a sad day knowing we won't have you along with your leadership, insight, intelect, bravery and common sense with us on a planet that needs women and men like you more than ever. "I had fantasized and hoped that you we're going to be our first woman president. "I loved that you fearlessly fought for equality for women. But EQUALITY for all was the goal. That's why the first quote and photo of you I posted is the one that resonates so hard in my heart and mind. "'Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.' "As simple as that may sound and read, I fear that currently in our society and in the issues that are dividing this country, the common sense in this quote is the single most important piece that is missing in movements that are supposedly pushing towards equality. "As important as these movements are and we want to join arm in arm with our countrymen and women, Instead of inspiring leadership fueled by unifying words, actions and solutions to pull us together in great numbers, movements are being driven by blame, guilt and hate towards anyone who look the same or have the same occupation as the guilty, Instead of holding actual individuals responsible. "It's the same barbaric beliefs that have poisoned our past for 100's of years. Now taking any past progress and dividing us even further. "Any current feelings of hope and unity, quickly and dangerously, turn to feelings of resentment towards each other, worse, resentment towards groups that was never there to begin with. "It's easier to fuel a fire than it is to put it out. "Extremists will always start the fires. And they, along with the media and the trending Socials, lead us to believe that the country as a whole are like them. "They are not who I'm worried about. It's the majority who will decide what to do with this bad information that scares me. "Will we jump on a trending bandwagon and buy into it. Or will we do our own individual research and seek out actual FACTS That these days seem to have been replaced by OPINION. "Choose a side or find common ground and work together towards realistic resolutions? "Ruth?" Ginsburg graduated from Columbia Law School, going on to become a staunch courtroom advocate for the fair treatment of women and working with the ACLU's Women's Rights Project. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1980 and appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993. The justice, who sat on the bench for 27 years, was the second woman confirmed to the top court. Supreme Court justices serve for life or until they choose to retire, and supporters have expressed concern that a more conservative judge might replace her while President Donald Trump, a Republican, remains in office. On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he will hold a vote on Trump's nominee to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Ginsburg on the Supreme Court despite the fact that, in the days before she died, Ginsburg reportedly told her granddaughter that it was her wish that she not be replaced before Inauguration Day. "My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed," Ginsburg reportedly said. McConnell blocked former President Obama's Supreme Court pick from receiving a confirmation hearing after Justice Antonin Scalia died in 2016, the year of the last presidential election. At the time, he and other GOP lawmakers maintained that a Supreme Court vacancy should not be filled the same year as a presidential race. View this post on Instagram . NOTORIOUS RBG It is a sad day knowing we won't have you along with your leadership, insight, intelect, bravery and common sense with us on a planet that needs women and men like you more than ever. I had fantasized and hoped that you we're going to be our first woman president. I loved that you fearlessly fought for equality for women. But EQUALITY for all was the goal. That's why the first quote and photo of you I posted is the one that resonates so hard in my heart and mind. “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” As simple as that may sound and read, I fear that currently in our society and in the issues that are dividing this country, the common sense in this quote is the single most important piece that is missing in movements that are supposedly pushing towards equality. As important as these movements are and we want to join arm in arm with our countrymen and women, Instead of inspiring leadership fueled by unifying words, actions and solutions to pull us together in great numbers, movements are being driven by blame, guilt and hate towards anyone who look the same or have the same occupation as the guilty, Instead of holding actual individuals responsible. It's the same barbaric beliefs that have poisoned our past for 100's of years. Now taking any past progress and dividing us even further. Any current feelings of hope and unity, quickly and dangerously, turn to feelings of resentment towards each other, worse, resentment towards groups that was never there to begin with. It's easier to fuel a fire than it is to put it out. Extremists will always start the fires. And they, along with the media and the trending Socials, lead us to believe that the country as a whole are like them. They are not who I'm worried about. It's the majority who will decide what to do with this bad information that scares me. Will we jump on a trending bandwagon and buy into it. Or will we do our own individual research and seek out actual FACTS That these days seem to have been replaced by OPINION. Choose a side or find common ground and work together towards realistic resolutions? Ruth? A post shared by Nuno (@nunobettencourtofficial) on Sep 19, 2020 at 8:43pm PDT

SYMPHONY X bassist Mike LePond spoke to Italy's Poisoned Rock about the band's plans to work on the material for the follow-up to 2015's "Underworld" album. He said (see video below): "I think as soon as the virus stuff passes by and goes away, I think we'll start getting together and we'll start writing songs. "I'm looking forward to writing songs, because, as you probably know, we haven't done an album since 2015. "The way we work is we're not the type of band that puts out an album every year, because, for us, the albums take so much work, and we really wanna try to make every song as great as possible. So a lot of times, our fans, they get upset because we put out albums every five years, but once we do put the albums out, people are happy." Last month, SYMPHONY X announced the rescheduled dates for its "25th Anniversary North American Tour". The 28-date trek, which was originally scheduled to kick off in Englewood, New Jersey on May 14 and and conclude on June 17 at The Masquerade in Atlanta, will now take place in May and June 2021. Support on the trek will still come from PRIMAL FEAR and FIREWIND. SYMPHONY X completed an extensive tour behind "Underworld" in 2016, including a U.S. run of shows with OVERKILL and a pair of headlining performances in Australia. In July 2017, SYMPHONY X vocalist Russell Allen and his ADRENALINE MOB bandmates were involved in a crash that killed the group's bassist, David Zablidowsky. Last fall, Allen — who has toured with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA since 2013 — was injured during the rehearsals for TSO's annual winter trek and was unable to make the tour.

Sharon Osbourne has paid tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday (September 18) due to complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. She was 87. On Saturday (September 19), Osbourne took to her Instagram to write: "This is a huge loss for this country and the world. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the shining lights for gender equality, women's interests and civil rights liberties passed away. Now, more than ever we needed this powerhouse of a lady to be the voice of reason and to keep our rights safe. I worry for the future of the decisions made without her on the Supreme Court. How lucky are the young girls to have had her as an example for the years she was with us. "We lost a role model, an independent thinker and a game changer in every sense of the word. Devastating. "'My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.' ~Ruth Bader Ginsburg~ "Rest In Power @ruth.bader.ginsburg" Ginsburg graduated from Columbia Law School, going on to become a staunch courtroom advocate for the fair treatment of women and working with the ACLU's Women's Rights Project. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1980 and appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993. The justice, who sat on the bench for 27 years, was the second woman confirmed to the top court. Supreme Court justices serve for life or until they choose to retire, and supporters have expressed concern that a more conservative judge might replace her while President Donald Trump, a Republican, remains in office. On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he will hold a vote on Trump's nominee to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Ginsburg on the Supreme Court despite the fact that, in the days before she died, Ginsburg reportedly told her granddaughter that it was her wish that she not be replaced before Inauguration Day. "My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed," Ginsburg reportedly said. McConnell blocked former President Obama's Supreme Court pick from receiving a confirmation hearing after Justice Antonin Scalia died in 2016, the year of the last presidential election. At the time, he and other GOP lawmakers maintained that a Supreme Court vacancy should not be filled the same year as a presidential race. View this post on Instagram This is a huge loss for this country and the world. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the shining lights for gender equality, women’s interests and civil rights liberties passed away. Now, more than ever we needed this powerhouse of a lady to be the voice of reason and to keep our rights safe. I worry for the future of the decisions made without her on the Supreme Court. How lucky are the young girls to have had her as an example for the years she was with us. We lost a role model, an independent thinker and a game changer in every sense of the word. Devastating. “ My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” ~Ruth Bader Ginsburg~ Rest In Power ? @ruth.bader.ginsburg A post shared by Sharon Osbourne (@sharonosbourne) on Sep 18, 2020 at 5:20pm PDT

MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio will launch a new podcast and blog called "Words Of Power". DeMaio states: "'Words Of Power', coming to you as podcast and blog, is a way for me to reach people directly and address topics that I think will be interesting and of value to you. It is also a platform for you to reach me, so that I can address things that you would like to hear, not just about my music and MANOWAR. "Topics will be diverse and range from updates on projects I am working on, being an entrepreneur and a musician, navigating through the ever-changing music industry to my personal experiences and life itself. I'll also bring on guests that have impressed or inspired me and that I believe you will enjoy, too. "Even if you are not a musician or an entrepreneur, I believe you'll find great value in these 'Words Of Power', as they will touch ideas, values and mindsets that are relevant in many ways, to all of us, in all areas of life. "'Words Of Power' and my new website come in response to the many emails, private messages and other requests that I receive every day from people asking for advice; sometimes regarding their careers but also regarding difficult situations, overcoming obstacles or because they are at a turning point in their life and need encouragement and inspiration. As a musician and entrepreneur with over four decades of successes and challenges it is my honor to share my experiences with you. "Follow my blog on joeydemaio.com, my social media pages on Instagram and Twitter and my soon-to-be-launched podcast 'Words Of Power' and use these platforms to let me know what topics YOU want! "I am looking forward to taking this journey with you. "WORDS OF POWER FOR A POWERFUL LIFE". MANOWAR will embark on its 40th-anniversary tour in 2021. The trek will kick off in April in Germany and will include shows in The Netherlands for the first time in many years. MANOWAR released a new EP, "The Final Battle I", in March 2019. At the time, the band said that parts II and III of the trilogy would arrive at a later date, inspired by MANOWAR's adventures on the remainder of "The Final Battle".

TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon recently answered a number of fan-submitted questions during an appearance in the WRIF Virtual Rock Room. Asked if TESLA will ever work with former guitarist Tommy Skeoch again, Hannon said (see video below): "I have to tell you, I love Tommy Skeoch. I just did an online masterclass — the Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp — and I broke down 'Modern Day Cowboy' and how Tommy and myself collaborated and worked on that music together. "When we were kids, Tommy Skeoch and myself, I was 16 and he was about 19 or 20," he continued. "I used to really look up to him — I was a huge fan of his style, and still am, a great fan of his guitar playing. We were like best buds. And then we would collaborate and write songs like 'Modern Day Cowboy' or any of those TESLA songs, we'd write 'em together. But as time went on, man, the egos and the problems — myself included — throughout the years, the competition, it really drove a wedge between us. And the drugs and alcohol just really destroyed our relationship, I've just gotta be honest. We weren't supposed to talk about this stuff, but now I figure it's been long enough. "I don't see that TESLA will ever go back, because we love [Tommy's replacement] Dave Rude, and Dave has really been a great addition to the band. And it would be disrespectful to him to go backwards to a toxic thing, a relationship that really got very toxic. "Unfortunately, I don't think that TESLA will work with Tommy again — ever," Frank reiterated. "But I will say that myself, personally, I have always loved Tommy and I just wish him the best. I'm so glad that he's still alive, and I know he's got a new band out [RESIST & BITE] that put a song out called 'The Myth I'm Livin''. It was kick-ass; it had Tommy's guitar. Look, I'm getting goosebumps right now. Every time I hear Tommy Skeoch play, it brings a smile to my face, 'cause he's freakin' awesome. As a musician, I have nothing but love and respect for the guy. But I don't think TESLA will ever work with him again. But I do wish him the best." Skeoch left TESLA in 2006 to receive treatment for substance-abuse issues. In a May 2020 interview with "The Classic Metal Show", Skeoch was asked if he thinks people are now more aware of the "edge" that he brought to TESLA while he was a member of the Sacramento-based act, on and off, for two decades. "Absolutely. Oh, yeah," he responded. "To me, it's been apparent from the get-go, but even early on, on my Facebook pages, just everyone, all they ever say is, 'We still love TESLA, but it's just a different band. There's no balls there now.' And these are not my words, man. I wasn't gonna say anything, 'cause it's just not appropriate. But, yeah, I think it's a different band, and maybe not for the best. That's my opinion. Everyone has an opinion. If they wanna listen to some more loungey, more kind of pop, lighter music, they're doing that now. And if people like that, then go for it. I like to rock hard." In a 2011 interview with Noisecreep, TESLA singer Jeff Keith stated about Skeoch: "Look, everyone in TESLA has been through their own substance-abuse issues. But Tommy got in too deep again. So the band told him that the only way we would be able to make this work is if he was clean and sober. I felt like we couldn't ask him to do that if we weren't going to commit to it too. So I was the first one to say that I wouldn't drink, or do anything else, on the tour. The next thing you know, the other guys did the same thing. Troy [Luccketta, drums] has been clean and sober for over 20 years, so it wasn't even an issue for him... Tommy couldn't stay off the stuff he was doing. It broke my heart to see it, but we knew we had to replace him." Joining Skeoch in RESIST & BITE are ex-LYNCH MOB lead vocalist Nathan Utz, guitarist Steve Stokes, drummer David Parks and bassist Brian Powell.