News - Album News

Aerosmith release a 44 track ‘Greatest Hits‘ on August 18 on various formats including 3CD and 4LP sets.

Albany Down release their new album ‘Born In The Ashes’ on September 1. They have released the first single off the album ‘You Always Want What You Can’t Have’.

AOR release ‘Bewitched In L.A.’ on Perris Records in August.

Ash release their new album ‘Race The Night’ on September 15 through Fierce Panda.

Asking Alexandra’s eighth studio album will be called ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ and is due in the autumn via Better Noise Music.

Atlas release their third album ‘Built To Last’ on the 20 October through Metalapolis Records.

Paul McArtney revealed in a recent BBC Radio 4 interview that AI has been used on a John Lennon demo to produce a new Beatles song, which is schedueld for release later this year.

Jeff Beck, Tim Bogert & Carmine Appice have a box set ‘Live in Japan 1973, Live in London 1974′ released on September 15.

Black Country Communion have started work on their fifth album with Kevin Shirley once again producing.

Frontiers have secured the rights to release the entire set of shows that Blue Oyster Cult (pictured) held at Sony Hall, NYC in celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary in September 2022. Each show featured the band playing in its entirety one of their first three albums (‘Blue Öyster Cult’, ’Tyranny and Mutation’, and ‘Secret Treaties’), followed by a set of deep cuts and classics from their other albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard was a special guest on all three nights. Frontiers label will release each night as a special individual package, starting with the first night before the end of 2023.

Joe Bonamassa releases ‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2′ on October 6 via J&R Adventures.

John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band have issued a new song, ‘Day In The Sun’. It is their first new music since 1989 and a new album is due later this year.

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons release their third album, ‘Kings Of The Asylum’, on September 1 through Nuclear Blast Records.

Cannibal Corpse release their 16th studio album ‘Chaos Horrific’ on September 22 via Metal Blade Records.

Alice Cooper releases his latest album, a concept piece, ‘Road’ on August 25 and it was produced by Bob Ezrin.

Crack The Sky release their latest album ‘From The Wood’ on June 9.

The Dead Daisies ‘Best Of’ due on August 18 will also include two previously unreleased tracks from the last recording session.

The Dirty Strangers release their sixth studio album ‘Hunter’s Moon’ on August 31 on TDS Records.

Dokken plan to release their latest album ‘Heaven Comes Down’ in September.

Electric Mary release their new album ‘Dinner For Wolves’ later this year, with the single ‘The Dealer’, already released.

Exodus have signed with Napalm Records with the band expected to release a new album next year.

Fear Factory aim to release their new album in 2024.

Freedom Call release a live album ‘The M.E.T.A.L. Fest’ on July 14 and have released the title track (a new studio recording) ahead of the album’s release.

Ghostseeker have signed with Atomic Fire Records who will release the band’s debut album in 2024.

HammerFall will start work on their next album at the end of the year.

Hawkwind release an eleven disc 50th anniversary edition of their ‘Space Ritual’ album on September 23 through Cherry Red/Atomhenge.

Hell In The Club release their sixth full-length studio album ‘F.U.B.A.R.’ via Frontiers on August 11.

Kent Hilli releases his latest album ‘Nothing Left To Loose’ via Frontiers on August 4.

Hurricane, featuring founding members Robert Sarzo (guitar) and Tony Cavazo (bass) along with drummer Mike Hansen and vocalist Dan Schumann, release a new album ‘Reconnected’ via Deko Entertainment in August.

IO Earth release their latest album ‘Sanctuary’ on June 23. It marks the return of former vocalist Linda Odinsen.

Karnataka have announced they will now release their new studio album, ‘Requiem For A Dream’, their first new studio album for eight years, through Immarama Records on July 28. The album marks the debut of vocalist Sertari, guitarist Luke Machin (Maschine, the Tangent), keyboard player Rob Wilshire (Mukti-Story) and drummer Chris Allen.

Dream Theater drummer Mike Mangin releases his solo album in August.

Neal Morse will release a new rock opera, ‘The Dreamer – Joseph: Part One’, on August 11 via Frontiers. Steve Morse and Ted Leonard (Spock’s Beard) are amongst the musicians involved.

A ten disc ‘Complete Studio Albums & Rarities’ by Stevie Nicks is released on July 28.

Old Crow Medicine Show release their new album ‘Jubilee’ on August 25 via ATO Records.

Pantera ‘The Complete Studio Albums 1990-2000′ (picture discs) will be available exclusively online at Rhino.com, Pantera.com, and indie retailers on July 21.

Paul Rodgers has released ‘Living It Up’ in Advance of his new album ‘Midnight Rose’ out on September 22.

Romeo’s Daughter release their new album ‘Slipstream’ on August 31.

Sacred Reich have written half a dozen songs for their next album, provisionally due towards the end of 2024.

Silent Skies release their third album ‘Dormant’ through Napalm Records on September 1.

Southern Empire release ‘Another World’ via GEP on September 4. It is the first album to feature new vocalist Shaun Holton.

Rick Springfield will release his new album ‘Automatic’ on August 4 via Songvest.

Bruce Springsteen has a second album of Motown and soul covers due next year.

Starfleet, the 1983 project featuring Brian May, Eddie Van Halen, REO Speedwagon’s Alan Gratzer, Phil Chen and Fred Mandel, is re-issued with bonus material on 2CD, Vinyl Single & LP/deluxe box set on July 14.

Rod Stewart has recorded a big band album with Jools Holland for release next year.

The ‘Dreamspace’ line-up of Stratovarius has reformed under the moniker of Timo Tolkki’s Strato. Featuring Timo Tolkki (vocals and guitar), Tuomo Lassila (drums) and Antti Ikonen (keyboards), they have signed a deal with Warner Music Japan and release their debut album, ‘Return To Dreamspace’, on October 27.

Strawbs release ‘The Magic Of It All’ album on July 14. The band play their farewell show at this year’s Cropredy festival.

Stray have finished work on their new album, as yet untitled, and it will be released before the end of the year. They also have a headline show at Leos Red Lion in Gravesend on September 15 supported by Vambo.

Streetlight release their debut album, ‘Ignition’, on August 11 through Frontiers.

Sven Gali’s oft delayed new album ‘Bombs and Battlescars’ is set for release in August on CD with vinyl to follow the following month.

Temple Balls release their latest album ‘Avalanche’ on November 10 through Frontiers.

Nuclear Blast have signed Testament and will release the band’s whole back catalogue, as well as three additional albums in the future.

Texas release ‘The Very Best Of 1989-2023′ on June 16.

Devin Townsend has announced that he will release a new live album, ‘Empath Live In America’, on August 4 on InsideOut Music.

Phil Vincent’s latest album ’Divine Intervention’ is released in July via Rock Company Records.

W.A.S.P. aim to release a new album in the summer of 2024.

Billy Gibbons has revealed in a recent interview with Classic Rock that the next ZZ Top album will feature tracks recorded with the band’s late bassist Dusty Hill. It will also include songs with and Dusty’s replacement, Elwood Francis.

Newly announced UK tours (2023 unless stated):

Bowling For Soup + Less Than Jake (2024), Bring Me The Horizon (2024), Oli Brown & the Dead Collective, the Charlatans, Eric Clapton (2024), John Cooper Clarke (2024), Barbara Dickson (2024 – farewell tour), Foo Fighters (2024), Fozzy (London Aug 25), Gov’t Mule (Nov 6 London Palladium), Haircut 100, Halestorm + Black Veil Brides (London Dec 9), PJ Harvey, the Hives (2024), Jack J Hutchinson, Jethro Tull (2024), KK’s Priest + Paul Di’Annio, Marillion, Massive Wagons, Muse, Jarod James Nichols + DeWolff, Paradise Lost + My Dying Bride, Pendragon, Pixies (2024), the Prodigy, Michael Schenker, Sleep Token (London Dec 16), 10CC (2024), Tears For Fears, Voyager,

Upcoming (Gigs – UK)

Newly announced US & European tours (2023 unless stated):

Alice In Chains (US), Amberian Dawn (Eur), Asking Alexandria + The Hu (US), Avatar (US), Black Veil Brides + Ville Valo (US), the Commoners (US), Cradle Of Filth + DevilDriver (US), the Cult (US), the Darkness (US), Death Angel + Sacred Reich (Eur), Brian Eno (Eur), Foo Fighters (Aus, NZ), Greg Howe (US), Jet (Aus), Marillion (Eur), Metal Church (Aus), Motley Crue + Def Leppard (US), the Obsessed (Can), Overkill (US), Pixies (Eur 2024), Queens of the Stone Age (US), Royal Blood (US), Royal Hunt (Eur), the Screaming Jets (Aus), Skillet + Theory Of A Deadman (US), Tenacious D (US), Tool (US), Walter Trout (Aus 2024), Steve Vai (US), Von Hertzen Brothers – acoustic (Eur), Winger + Ron Keel + White Widdow (Aus), Neil Young (US),

Upcoming (USA/ROW)

Rick Wakemna, Steve Hackett, Roger Chapman, Geoff Downes, Mel Collins, Annie Haslam, Phil Manzanera and Martin Orford are just some of the names who will be appearing at a special memorial concert for the late John Wetton on August 3, which will raise money for the Macmillan Caring Locally charity. The event will be streamed for the general public.

Postponed/cancelled gigs & tours

Watchet Festival ends after ten years – “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unfortunately not able to renew our lease on the land that we use at Parsonage Farm. Because of this we feel after much soul searching and debate that this is the right time to allow Watchet Festival to come to a natural end.”

Spock’s Beard statement – “We regret to announce that due to circumstances beyond our control, Spock’s Beard will not be performing at HRH Prog this year, and since the rest of our planned UK / Europe tour hinged on doing that festival, the tour won’t be happening either.”

Donnie Vie’s Australian tour has been cancelled.

Asking Alexandria have cancelled the remainder of their current European tour due the drummer’s foot injury.

According to CNN, Universal Music Group is in talks to acquire Queen’s catalogue from Disney Music Group. It is rumoured the sale could surpass $1 billion and that the deal is “expected to close within one month.”

BMG has acquired the recording catalogue of The Hollies, covering releases from 1967 to the present day. They have also acquired a “substantial stake” in the work of Paul Simon, buying his royalty and remuneration rights in relation to the Simon & Garfunkel recordings.

In through the out door…line-up changes

Drummer Nick Norton has taken over vocal duties from Dave Gleason for the Angels, as Gleason focuses on the Screaming Jets.

Gavin Hill (White Widdow) is the new drummer for Wicked Smile.

Volbeat have parted ways with guitarist Rob Caggiano. Flemming C. Lund will join the band for their 2023 live dates.

Slipknot have parted ways with keyboardist Craig Jones.

Vocalist Hannah Lia (ex-Fallen Mafia) who died just days before the release of the debut single release of her new project, The Beautiful Chaos Corporation.

Guitarist Tony McPhee of the Groundhogs

Music photographer Mick Hutson

Johnny “Blackie Onassis” Rowan, the former drummer of Urge Overkill

TT Quick drummer Erik Ferro

Early Megadeth drummer Lee Rauch

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)