Rush are set to hit the road for the first time since Neil Peart’s passing next month, with former Jeff Beck drummer Anika Nilles sitting in for the Professor. But while the band was still in mourning after his death, Geddy Lee says some drummers were already eying Peart’s position.

“People who are close to us – good friends that are successful drummers – would never infer something like that because they have too much respect, not only for Neil and for the situation,” Lee tells Guitar World. “They were grieving as well, so they wouldn’t be so selfish as to say something inappropriate like that.”

However, he adds that “there were many other drummers who reached out to me in the aftermath of Neil’s passing that were pushing themselves, and that was most distasteful to me. It was completely inappropriate timing.”

Read more Guitar World.

Following the band sharing their version Climax Blues Band‘s  I Love You, which can be heard here, they have released their version of  Queen’s Spread Your Wings, which can be heard below. 

Bassist, keyboardist, pianist and backing vocalist Brian Wheat comments, “Spread Your Wings for me was the song I always wanted to record by Queen. I always felt it was the one song they had in their catalog that should’ve been a massive hit, but wasn’t because it was overshadowed by We Are the Champions and We Will Rock You on the News Of The World album. It was also a song written by John Deacon, who was the band’s secret weapon and whom not many people talk about, the quiet one, shall we say.”

For more details about Homage, including the track list, please go here.

He responded (as transcribed by blabbermouth.net), “There’s a couple. Lido Shuffle [by] Boz Scaggs. There’s nothing that isn’t amazing about that song as a body of work. Every time I listen to it, I’m, like, ‘Wow, where did this come from?’ I don’t know if I would be able to create something like that. And then the other is Breakdown by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers. That’s just one of those songs, even though it has that false start which kind of makes it even more amazing and beautiful — the structure of that song is so bizarre. It’s almost like it’s unfinished. But it’s such an incredible song ’cause from the minute it starts, it’s like, ‘Yep, breakdown. Cool.’ And then, before you know it, it’s gone. But that’s one of those songs that I wish I wrote. Simplicity.”

After Mistress Carrie noted that the hardest songs to write are usually the simplest ones, Bolan concurred. “I agree,” he said. “I write simple. And I guess that’s just the stuff I listen to. Most of the stuff I listened to was three-chord rock: KISS, AC/DC, Ramones, Sex Pistols, for the most part. And so that is kind of in my wiring to write like that, I guess. And that’s the only thing I know…”

[Dana’s comment: I will have to think about this, since there are so many great songs, but as of my typing this, The Beatles were the kings of writing catchy, simple songs.]

While still in the U.S. film festivals such as Sound Unseen in Minneapolis (May 13th) and the San Francisco Documentary Festival on (June 3rd),the film will also see its North American theatrical premiere for public audiences at the Lumiere Music Hall Theater, 9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, California 90211 on June 9th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., which is also the official North American release date for both the digital VOD and home entertainment DVD/Blu-ray formats. A special question-and-answer session with director Wes Orshoski will immediately follow the Beverly Hills screening.

In this strikingly raw and intimate film, Orshoski captures the late singer riding an emotional rollercoaster toward the end of his life. Featuring appearances by James Hetfield (Metallica),Gene Simmons (KISS), Iron Maiden‘s Steve Harris and members of Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth, Overkill and Sepultura, the film chronicles how two Iron Maiden fans encounter Di’Anno at the lowest point of his life and then set out to restore his health and relaunch his career.

Wheelchair-bound since the mid-2010s, Di’Anno‘s health nosedived during the COVID-19 pandemic, when those two fans launched a crowdfunding campaign which ultimately led to him relocating to Croatia, where — through the help of those fans and doctors — he made a dramatic turnaround while running out of money, reuniting with his former Maiden bandmates and falling in love. Eventually he makes a heroic and drama-filled return to the stage. All of this is captured in Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer, which Orshoski began shooting in 2017.

“For years there wasn’t much to capture,” says Orshoski, whose credits include Lemmy, a study of Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister and The Damned: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead. “Paul was waiting for surgeries that doctors in the U.K. would not greenlight. He was in an incredibly dark place. But once he got to Croatia, fans and doctors gave him the hope he was desperately searching for. It was beautiful to witness. I wanted to make a film that was unlike any rock doc you’ve ever seen. And in the end, I think we got there.”

One of icons of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, London-born Di’Anno helped launch Iron Maiden around the world, appearing on two of the most foundational metal albums ever released: Iron Maiden‘s 1980 self-titled debut and the celebrated follow-up, Killers, released in 1981. In one of the most epic sagas in metal history, Di’Anno left Maiden in 1981 and was replaced by Bruce Dickinson, leaving metal fans around the world to debate which line-up and which singer was/is better. It’s a debate that continues to this day, almost 50 years later.

The official trailer for Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer can be viewed below.

Cursum Perficio will be available as a standard CD; Target-exclusive CD with a fabric patch of the album cover; standard black double LP with pop-up gatefold; Target-exclusive double LP, red zoetrope with pop-up gatefold; Amazon-exclusive double LP, purple zoetrope LP with pop-up gatefold; merch-exclusive lilac vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Metal Injection-exclusive white vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Talk Shop Live-exclusive signed with red ripple vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Indie-exclusive red, orange yellow vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold.

For Cursum Perficio‘s first single and video, It’s For The Kids (see below), the quintet bulldoze the way for the album’s impact. It’s a classic Anthrax ripper locked and loaded with buzzsaw-sharp riffs, explosive drumming, and a howling and head-banging hook. It undoubtedly has all the makings of a future live staple.

The band dove into recording Cursum Perficio in earnest during 2022, working out of Dave Grohl‘s Studio 606 in Los Angeles. They carefully pieced together what would be this magnum opus, mining their history with reverence, delivering on fan expectations tenfold, and broadening the scope of their signature sound. Produced by Jay Ruston and Anthrax, the result is an album that’s as angry, aggressive, and alive as their most celebrated fare.

“It was quite a journey from the inception of this album to its completion,” Ian says. We were supposed to make this in 2020, but the universe had other plans for everyone. After the pandemic, we got to be a band again. When we started working on the record, we were just happy to be in a room together. It was so exciting that it was like being reborn in a way. All of that energy and emotion went into the music. The fear of being forced out of our lives and the joy of coming back together are present. The title Cursum Perficio feels like Anthrax. It resembled what we went through to get to the point of finishing the record.”

“There was an awful lot of growth between Worship Music in 2011 and Cursum Perficio,” Benante elaborated. “This album is a culmination of everything we’ve learned. I was watching a Marilyn Monroe documentary, and I saw “Cursum Perficio” written on a tile in her last home. When I found out what the phrase meant, it immediately clicked with me. We aren’t saying this is our last record, but our journey has come to an end. I believe we’ve completed the task.”

“We had to make Fistful Of Metal and Spreading The Disease to be able to write Among The Living,” Ian goes on. “In the same respect, it took Worship Music and For All Kings for us to be able to write Cursum Perficio. I very much compare this record to Among The Living.

“We left it all on the table,” agreed Bello. “We really know who we are as Anthrax, what turns us on, and what we need to do. I don’t think anybody knows what’s next, but we’re hungrier than ever. From here on out, we’re going to go full throttle for every f–king minute.”

“A friend of mine said, It’s For The Kids is a straight-up love letter to your fans,'” Ian adds. “That’s exactly what I wanted it to be. The album needed a four-minute thrash song that harkened back to our first era. Whether it’s the aggression or the big chorus, it represents all the best parts of Anthrax in a very angry four-minute package. For the video, we wanted to throw back to our Madhouse video — thematically it just made sense and this idea opened the door for us to share the experience with our fans. For all of us.”

“The video for It’s For the Kids turned out really well,” Benante says. “I don’t necessarily like doing videos and this one had elements of things that I really love. There were fans in it, they showed up, they enjoyed it, it made me enjoy the video just seeing them enjoy it. Hearing the song for the first time, their reaction to it, and just the interaction with them was just great. I think the director did a great job on it. It’s kind of a throwback to our first ever video, Madhouse. So I think fans are gonna see it and think ‘oh look at that, I see what they did.’ But yeah, great song and a great video. It’s For the Kids is one of the songs that I felt was so strong, and the riff behind it and the rhythm behind it was almost like a tug of war, it’s like a push-pull. It has this tension to it where the drums are just playing at a high pace speed, and the guitars are doing pretty much quarter notes with it. And the drums are just going full speed ahead. One of my favorite songs on the record and one of my favorite riffs. I really think this song is a gift to Anthrax fans who have been with us throughout the years. This basically is Anthrax at its best. Fast-paced, thrashing, melodic f–king metal.”

“When I hear certain tracks, I immediately go, ‘I want to do this song. It might have a shot,” Belladonna notes. “Even the first time I started singing a tune like Madhouse, I figured it was going to be a strong one. You just know. There’s a lot of variety to each of our records. To me, It’s For The Kids is nice, straight-up Anthrax. It has a lot of fire and a punch to it. Vocally, it’s really cooking. It was definitely fun to hammer down on this one and put a lot of drive into it.”

Donais states, “It’s For The Kids is a right-to-the-point thrasher. It’s fast, aggressive, catchy and definitely going to be a fun one live. I love the Madhouse-inspired throwback vibe of this video. Involving the fans and capturing their reactions to a new song adds some energy that really stands out.”

“I’m psyched for people to hear It’s For The Kids‘!’ Bello comments. “This is a heavy, driving song with a big hook chorus-a combination of classic Anthrax and current. I can’t wait to play it live. Had a (cold!) blast filming the video too. It’s a great, energy packed video with a bunch of amazing Anthrax fans having a good time on a freezing day in Pennsylvania. The metal kept us all warm.”

The Cursum Perficio track listing is as follows:

1.  Persistence Of Memory
2.  The Long Goodbye
3.  It’s For The Kids
4.  Everybody’s Got A Plan
5.  The Edge Of Perfection
6.  Infectious
7.  NYC93
8.  Cursum Perficio
9.  T.O.M.B
10. Watch It Go
11. My Victory

DEEP PURPLE is currently featured on the cover of Classic Rock Germany, where the magazine highlights Arrogant Boy as “an electrifying song in the style of Space Truckin‘ or Highway Star,” adding that it “doesn’t copy these classics; rather, it cleverly varies them.”

“Arrogant Boy‘ is the story of Billy who couldn’t read or write,” says Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan. “He is unhappy with things, so he speaks up, and finds a way of irritating, one way or another, the elite. And I can’t think of anything more fun than irritating the elite. It would be a joyous exercise for me every morning after coffee.”

To read further details about Splat!, please click here.

Pre-order your copy today at here.

Nicko McBrain is the legendary drummer for Iron Maiden, joining the band in 1982, after stints with artists like Streetwalkers, Pat Travers and Trust and honing his craft from decades of session work among the highly competitive mean streets and studios of London’s Soho. Through his powerful, precise drumming and charismatic stage presence, the long-serving drummer became a metal icon, pivotal in shaping Iron Maiden’s dynamic sound. 

With trademark humor and heart Nicko McBrain takes us behind the scenes of one of Britain’s biggest ever bands. Experience the highs and lows of his illustrious career on the road, in the studio and being ‘Mr Iron Maiden’ to the worldwide legion of fans. 

This is the story of what it feels like to remain not just relevant but more loved than ever after decades at the top, and to live a life transformed by music, brotherhood, and belief. 

Packed with unforgettable moments, backstage stories, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and raw honesty, Hello Boys and Girls! is more than a rock memoir, it’s a front-row seat to one of heavy metal’s greatest lives. 

Nicko McBrain says, “I’m very excited and honoured to be working with the wonderful HarperNonFiction Team on my very own book full of lots of fun stories, anecdotes and of course my incredible experiences with some of the greatest musicians and performers from the 70s, 80s and beyond. I am blessed to be able to finally share my path to where I am today, in my own words, with the world.”

Mötley Crüe continue to electrify audiences across generations, delivering a high-energy national TV performance on the season finale of American Idol last nightthat reminded the world exactly why their music and legacy endures. The Crüe performed a powerful medley of their classic hits Home Sweet Home and Kickstart My Heart, as a duet with 8-time GRAMMY® Award winner and American Idol Judge, Carrie Underwood. In case you missed it or simply need to see it again, check it out below.

Next up, Mötley Crüe is gearing up to hit stages across North America this Summer on The Return Of The Carnival Of Sins Tour. Their first extensive touring in 2 years will see them hit 35 cities with dates in July, August, and September, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking 2006 Carnival Of Sins Tour with a reimagined show and updated setlist. $1 of every ticket sold will be donated to ASAP! (After School Arts Program) through the Mötley Crüe Giveback Initiative to support students with hands-on programs in music and the arts. Get tickets and VIP packages here. For more info, visit motley.com.

The Return Of The Carnival Of Sins Tour:

July:

4,  Winnipeg, MB – Princess Auto Stadium * 

2   Vancouver, BC – PNE Amphitheatre *

17, Burgettstown, PA — The Pavilion at Star Lake

18, Buffalo, NY — Darien Lake Amphitheater

20, Clarkson, MI — Pine Knob Music Theatre

22 Toronto, ON — RBC Amphitheatre

24 Gilford, NH — BankNH Pavilion

25, Bangor, ME — Maine Savings Amphitheater

27, Camden, NJ — Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

29 Saratoga Springs, NY — Albany Med Health System at SPAC

31, Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center

August:

1  Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center

3,  Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live

12 Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

14, West Palm Beach, FL — iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

15, Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

17 Charlotte, NC — Truliant Amphitheater 

19, St. Louis, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

21 Shakopee, MN — Mystic Lake Amphitheater

22 Tinley Park, IL — Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

24 Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center

25 Cincinnati, OH — Riverbend Music Center

27 Grand Rapids, MI — Acrisure Amphitheater

28 Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Music Center 

September:

8  Kansas City, MO — Morton Amphitheater

10 Dallas, TX — Dos Equis Pavilion

11 Houston, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

13 Albuquerque, NM — First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater 

16 Phoenix, AZ — Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

18 Chula Vista, CA — North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

19 Long Beach, CA — Long Beach Amphitheater

21 Salt Lake City, UT — Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

23 Wheatland, CA — Toyota Amphitheatre

24 Mountain View, CA — Shoreline Amphitheater

26 Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater

* Festival date 

To get you ready for the Summer tour kick off, the band today announced a limited edition picture disc boxset, Crücial Crüe 1981 – 1989. It will be available via BMG on July 10th as a 5LP Picture Disc Set, 5CD Picture Disc Replica Set, and ULTRA-LIMITED 250 unit hand numbered Crüeseum Exclusive featuring a reverse color outer box. 

The box set includes their iconic first five studio albums, which have sold a combined 30 Million Copies globally:  Too Fast For Love (1981 – Platinum US), Shout At The Devil (1983 – 4X Platinum US), Theatre Of Pain (1985 – 4X Platinum US), Girls Girls Girls (1987 – 4X Platinum US), and Dr. Feelgood (1989 – 6X Platinum US).

Contained on these albums are timeless tracks that shaped a generation, created a genre and are still featured in the band’s setlist to this day, including: Live Wire, Too Fast For Love, Shout At The Devil, Looks That Kill, Home Sweet Home, Smokin’ In The Boys Room, Girls, Girls, Girls, Wild Side, Dr. Feelgood, Kickstart My Heart, Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) and many more! Pre-Order here.

Limited Edition Deluxe Picture Disc LP & Picture Disc/LP Replica CD Box Includes:

Too Fast for Love (1981):

Side A:                     

Live Wire                 

Come On and Dance     

Public Enemy #1           

Merry-Go-Round           

Take Me to the Top

Side B:

Piece of Your Action

Starry Eyes

Too Fast For Love

On with the Show

Shout at the Devil (1983):

Side A:                     

In the Beginning            

Shout at the Devil        

Looks That Kill           

Bastard                

God Bless the Children of the Beast 

Helter Skelter

Side B:

Red Hot

Too Young to Fall in Love

Knock ’Em Dead, Kid

Ten Seconds to Love

Danger

Theatre of Pain (1985):

Side A:                    

City Boy Blues            

Smokin’ in the Boys Room 

Louder Than Hell          

Keep Your Eye on the Money 

Home Sweet Home       

Side B:

Tonight (We Need a Lover)

Use It or Lose It

Save Our Souls

Raise Your Hands to Rock

Fight for Your Rights

Girls, Girls, Girls (1987):

Side A:                 

Wild Side             

Girls, Girls, Girls          

Dancing on Glass          

Bad Boy Boogie           

Nona                 

Side B:

Five Years Dead

All in the Name of… 

Sumthin’ for Nuthin’

You’re All I Need

Jailhouse Rock

Dr. Feelgood (1989):

Side A:                   

T.n.T. (Terror ’n Tinseltown)  

Dr. Feelgood             

Slice of Your Pie         

Rattlesnake Shake      

Kickstart My Heart        

Without You

Side B:

Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)

Sticky Sweet

She Goes Down

Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

Time for Change

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The official visualizer for the LP’s second single, Tears Keep On Falling, can be seen below.

Nathan James comments, “I loved singing this song in the studio. Such a great chorus and I really hope the listeners enjoy it as much as I do.”

Michael Sweet shares, “I’m really proud to be a part of such an iconic band, no pun intended! It takes me back to the glory days, when rock ruled radio, and it was topping the charts. We created this album to remind people of those times. Here’s to Tears Keep On Falling‘“

Marco Mendoza says, “Tears Keep On Falling is a powerful rock ballad; it will get your attention as soon as you hear it, from the first verse. Nathan‘s vocals are amazing, and Michael and Joel‘s guitars are on fire… Tommy A at the helm driving! Enjoy!”

Joel Hoekstra comments, “I hope everyone enjoys Tears Keep On Falling. It was killer to lean into the groove that Tommy Aldridge and Marco Mendozagave us for this one. It was also great fun to play the harmony lead lines with Michael Sweet and finally to hear Nathan James belt out the vocals like only he can.”

Iconic returns with II, a second album that doesn’t just continue the band’s journey — it defines it. Where their debut introduced the chemistry between five world-class musicians, II sharpens that vision into a clearer, heavier, and more confident sonic identity, delivering a sound that is more powerful, more direct, and unmistakably rock.

At the heart of the album lies the electrifying guitar partnership of Hoekstra and Sweet, delivering a masterclass in soaring melodies, blazing solos, and muscular riffs that perfectly balance technical brilliance with pure hard-rock attitude. Beneath them, the rhythm section of Aldridge and Mendoza drives the record with thunderous authority, creating a groove that is both massive and relentless.

The album kicks off with Cry No More (also posted below) a high-octane opener that immediately sets the tone — an energetic slice of hard rock packed with driving riffs, explosive drums, and a chorus built to stick.

On the other side of the emotional spectrum, Tears Keep On Falling showcases the band’s dynamic range, unfolding as an electrifying power ballad where melody, atmosphere, and intensity come together in dramatic fashion.

Towering above it all is James, whose performance on II is nothing short of extraordinary — powerful, soulful, and commanding, elevating every track with unmistakable presence.

With bigger riffs, deeper grooves, and a stronger sense of identity, II captures ICONIC at full force: a band no longer introducing itself but fully owning its sound.

When the album’s first single, Cry No More, was made available in April, Sweet commented, “It’s been a long time coming, and the time is finally here! It’s an absolute honor to be a part of such an incredible band, and Cry No More is the perfect representation of who Iconic is. Music that takes you back to the best of times and reminds you that rock is still alive and well!”

Hoekstra added, “It’s a pleasure to work with these fantastic musicians in Iconic. Cry No More should give classic rock fans something raw and real in terms of both playing and production. Crank it up!”

James stated, “I’m so pleased to have made another album with these incredible musicians. I hope everyone enjoys this first single, Cry No More, and the whole album.”

Mendoza exclaimed, “Well, the time is here, folks, finally Iconic II is coming to you…Like always, it’s a blast and quite an honor to be part of a project like this, with all these players! Take a listen and enjoy! Viva la ROCK!!!”

II track listing:

1.  Cry No More
2.  All I Want
3.  Open My Eyes
4.  Tears Keep On Falling
5.  Take Me To The Place
6.  S.O.S.
7.  Nothing Left For Me
8.  Far Away
9.  Valley Of Lost Souls
10. Written In The Stars
11. Heart Of Stone

Iconic II recording lineup:

Nathan James – Vocals
Michael Sweet – Guitars
Joel Hoekstra – Guitars
Marco Mendoza – Bass
Tommy Aldridge – Drums
Keyboards by Antonio Agate
Backing vocals by Marco Pastorino