Rock News

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson performed the American national anthem a cappella at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ home opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday (September 14). The heavy metal legend called the experience “a huge honour” on Instagram, with the vocalist receiving chants of “U.S.A!” from the crowd. The British singer’s unexpected role in an iconic American tradition sparked mixed reactions on social media, highlighting the novelty of a U.K. musician singing the anthem at an NFL game. Dickinson is currently on the North American leg of his Mandrake Project solo tour, which concludes at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on October 5. Meanwhile, Iron Maiden is celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025, accompanied by a forthcoming documentary directed by Malcolm Venville that explores the band’s legacy, featuring interviews with famous fans like Javier Bardem and Lars Ulrich, alongside insight from key members of the metal band, including the final interview with original vocalist Paul Di’Anno, who died last year. (Rolling Stone)

On Sunday (September 14), a new trailer was released featuring Jeremy Allen White starring as Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me From Nowhere. The biopic captures the making of Springsteen’s iconic 1982 album, Nebraska, with the film directed by Scott Cooper and based on Warren Zanes’ 2023 biography. The movie is set to premiere in theaters on October 24, and it explores Springsteen’s retreat to a series of solo home recordings after the success of The River, and his choice to release the raw, haunting tracks despite label pressures for full-band versions. Alongside White, the cast also features Jeremy Strong as Springsteen’s trusted manager Jon Landau, and includes appearances by Paul Walter Hauser, Odessa Young, Marc Maron, Gabby Hoffman, Stephen Graham, and Johnny Cannizzaro. To coincide with the film, Springsteen is releasing Nebraska '82: Expanded Edition, a comprehensive five-disc set including remastered tracks, electric versions, solo outtakes, and a new live performance film. (Consequence of Sound)

Tool’s guitarist Adam Jones and drummer Danny Carey performed a brief, intense musical introduction to the Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing match on Saturday night (September 13) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The prog metal legends delivered about 75 seconds of freestyle noise that set the ominous tone before the main event, which Crawford won by unanimous decision. The duo’s performance echoed Tool’s signature style but was limited to just an intro teaser rather than a full song. Looking ahead, Tool plans to play their first concerts in Hawaii in nearly 15 years this December, while continuing to work on their next album, a follow-up to 2019’s chart-topping, Grammy-winning Fear Innoculum. Jones recently revealed that he’s “got lots of riffs” ready for new material, while frontman Maynard James Keenan added that the band plans to spend 2026 “writing.” (Consequence of Sound)

On Monday (September 15), Sammy Hagar announced the dates and details of his 2026 Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Hagar will perform 11 shows throughout March and September next year, joined by his all-star backing band featuring Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, Kenny Aronoff, and Rai Thistlethwayte as part of his ongoing The Best of All Worlds Tour. Hagar’s setlist will include songs from his Van Halen era, solo career, and Montrose material. “I can’t tell you how hard it’s been not to leak this announcement,” Hagar shared on Instagram, while adding, “I love this band like no other and can’t wait to do it again.” Ticket pre-sales begin September 16, with general sales starting September 19. Following a successful Vegas residency earlier this year – which will soon be immortalized in a live album set to be released on October 10 – Hagar praised the band and the current run of shows as some of the best of his life. (Consequence of Sound)

A heartfelt letter from Lady Gaga to David Bowie is now on display at the newly opened David Bowie Centre in London. The undated note – likely written in late 2012 or early 2013 – reveals Gaga’s admiration for Bowie after she received an advance copy of his 2013 album, The Next Day. “Dear David Bowie,” the letter begins, “It was truly an honor to receive an advanced copy of your album. I cried, in fact, listening to each song. How does he know I exist? I feel as though my entire career has been an artistic plea for you to notice me. I'm finishing my album ARTPOP and am in New York. I would be grateful and honored to meet you. Love + Art, GAGA.” She eventually released ARTPOP in November 2013, though the two music superstars never did get the chance to meet in person. Following Bowie’s death in 2016, Gaga paid tribute to him at the Grammys by performing a medley of his hits that included “Space Oddity,” “Fashion,” “Let’s Dance,” “Rebel Rebel,” and “Heroes.” (Rolling Stone)

During a quick on the street interview by TMZ, Usher publicly endorsed Metallica as his personal choice for headliner at the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, which is scheduled to take place on February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco. The support from Usher – who previously headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas in 2024 – adds momentum to the heavy metal band’s bid to perform in their adopted hometown, with drummer Lars Ulrich recently expressing the band’s eagerness to play the event. While hard rock has a limited presence in Super Bowl history – with classic bands like The Who and Aerosmith joining Guns N’ Roses’ guitarist Slash as the heaviest artists to have played the halftime show – Metallica’s chart-topping history and worldwide albums sales of 125 million, along with their nine Grammy wins, make the metal band a solid potential choice to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. (Consequence of Sound)

On Thursday (September 11), Limp Bizkit released the single, “Making Love to Morgan Wallen,” their first new song in four years. The track features quirky lyrics referencing figures like Chester Bennington, David Bowie, and getting kicked out of a Trump resort, with a nod to the Beastie Boys’ “Hey Ladies,” and concludes with a mention of the controversial country star from the song's title, Morgan Wallen. The band previously teased the song on social media last week with a clip featuring frontman Fred Durst and viral Internet drummer Kristina Rybalchenko. “Making Love to Morgan Wallen” is the band’s first new offering since their 2021 comeback record, Still Sucks, which marked their first studio album in a decade. Limp Bizkit will possibly deliver the live debut of their new track on their upcoming Latin American tour, which kicks off on November 29 in Mexico City and concludes on December 20 in São Paulo, Brazil. (Consequence of Sound)

Sublime notches its first No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart in nearly 29 years with “Ensenada.” The band’s current chart-topper is sung by Jakob Nowell, son of late frontman Bradley Nowell, and follows their 1996 No. 1 hit, “What I Got,” which topped the chart five months after Bradley's death in May of that year. This marks the longest gap between No. 1 hits in the 37-year history of the Alternative Airplay chart at 28 years and 10 months, surpassing Sum 41's previous record of 22 years and six months. “Ensenada” also reached No. 1 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, and debuted at No. 38 on Mainstream Rock Airplay. The new single previews Sublime’s forthcoming new album, though a release date for the project has not been revealed. This would mark the band’s first new offering since their 1996 self-titled album. (Billboard)

Nearly two months after Ozzy Osbourne’s death on July 22, Sharon Osbourne broke her silence on social media with an emotional post on Instagram shared on Friday (September 12). “I’m still having trouble finding the words to express how grateful I am for the overwhelming love and support you’ve shown on social media,” Sharon wrote, alongside a video of her and daughter Kelly enjoying an outing at Cornwall Falconry in England. “Your comments, posts, and tributes have brought me more comfort than you know,” she continued. “None of it has gone unnoticed, in fact, it’s carried me through many nights.” Sharon described finding comfort in the trust and connection she experienced with the birds, likening it to the bond she shared with Ozzy, before ending her message with, “I love you all, and I thank you deeply for the otherworldly amount of love you continue to send my way. ✌️❤️” (Billboard)

Foo Fighters debuted their new drummer, Ilan Rubin, formerly of Nine Inch Nails, at a surprise theater show in San Luis Obispo, California, on Saturday night (September 13), marking the band’s first performance of 2025. Frontman Dave Grohl introduced Rubin to the crowd by announcing, “I finally get the opportunity to say, ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome the most bada** motherfu**er, Ilan Rubin, is playing drums in the Foo Fighters right now. It’s official.” The Foos 25-song setlist included hits like “Everlong” and “Learn to Fly,” as well as rare tracks such as “Exhausted” and “Winnebago” from Grohl’s pre-Foo Fighters era. The band’s Instagram post announcing the surprise show also featured a teaser clip of new music, while the Foos revealed on Sunday that they are playing a second surprise show at The Observatory in Santa Ana, California on Monday (September 15), as they continue to prepare for their upcoming international tour which kicks off in Jakarta, Indonesia on October 2. (Rolling Stone)

In a new interview with Las Vegas Review-Journal published to coincide with the launch of Mötley Crüe’s Las Vegas residency on Friday night (September 12), singer Vince Neil revealed he suffered a debilitating stroke on Christmas night 2024. The incident left his entire left side paralyzed, forcing him to relearn how to walk and defy doctors’ expectations that he’d never perform again. “It’s like a full-time job getting back to where you feel good again,” Neil said of his grueling rehabilitation. “It takes a while to get your brain to start moving your legs. You try to walk but it doesn’t come out right.” Neil shared that he currently feels “90-95% back to where I was before,” and added that he is “going to push through the best I can” during the band’s 10-show Vegas residency, which continues through October 3 at Dolby Live at Park MGM. (Variety)

Lenny Kravitz’s friends say the rocker dad warmly approved of his daughter Zoë’s budding romance with Harry Styles after the trio enjoyed a lighthearted lunch together in New York City. Apparently Lenny found the former One Direction singer polite, down-to-earth, and genuinely interested in getting to know the family while they dined together recently at Sant Ambroeus in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. Despite being protective of Zoë, the 61-year-old singer appreciated Harry’s sense of humor and felt he respected Zoë, whom he wants to see with someone who values her. The couple, who sparked romance rumors in August, have been seen multiple times in public together as of late, with the actress, 36, and the pop star, 31, spotted walking hand-in-hand in Brooklyn around the time of their lunch with Lenny. Zoë divorced actor Karl Glusman in August 2021, and got engaged to Channing Tatum in October 2023, before they called off the engagement in October 2024. Meanwhile, Harry split from actress Taylor Russell in May 2024. (People)

On Friday (September 12), the first trailer was shared for the upcoming documentary, Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery — The Untold Story, which is set to premiere on Hulu and Disney+ on September 21. The film celebrates the groundbreaking all-female music festival through interviews with co-founder Sarah McLachlan, festival veterans like Sheryl Crow, Paula Cole, Bonnie Raitt, and Erykah Badut, and younger artists such as Olivia Rodrigo. “All of my favorite artists played at this event,” Rodrigo says in the trailer. “I was in disbelief I had never heard of it before.” The documentary is directed by Ally Pankiw and produced by Dan Levy’s Not a Real Production Company, with the project receiving the full support of the original Lilith Fair founders. The film features rare performances and backstage footage, highlighting the festival’s powerful, supportive environment and its impact on women in music. It will also debut on CBC in Canada on September 17. (Rolling Stone)

Sombr’s debut album, I Barely Know Her, climbs to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart this week, earning 27,000 equivalent album units in its second week of release. The album – which features 10 songs all solely written by sombr – also claimed the top spot on Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts, marking the artist’s first No. 1 across all three tallies, while also rising to No. 12 on the all-genre Billboard 200. The album’s chart dominance is due to the breakout success of its three singles, as “Undressed” is No. 1 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart for a second week, on the strength of 9.2 million U.S. streams and 32.7 million radio audience impressions. While the album's two other singles are both currently in the Top 10 of the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, as “Back to Friends” is at No. 3 and “12 to 12” reaches a new peak of No. 6. (Billboard)

Nearly two months after Ozzy Osbourne’s death at 76, the rock legend made his first posthumous TV appearance on a recent episode of Lego Masters Jr. After being introduced by the series host, his daughter Kelly Osboure, Ozzy delighted the kids and their parents with a playful and spooky message to the young contestants. “Hi dad, we need someone to scare a few of the kids. Would you mind?” Kelly asked Ozzy, who was filming the segment remotely. “I’d love to!,” the Prince of Darkness responded and let out a maniacal laugh. “You’ve got one hour left to finish those builds! Or else!,” Ozzy threatened. While the kids were freaking out, Kelly responded, “Thank you, daddy. That was perfect. We love you.” Ozzy’s heartwarming cameo marks the beginning of several upcoming posthumous projects, including the Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow documentary set for early 2026, the Paramount+ film Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now, and his forthcoming memoir, Last Rites, due out October 7. (Billboard)

Two months after Jane’s Addiction members Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins filed a $10 million lawsuit against frontman Perry Farrell over an onstage altercation and the cancellation of their 2024 reunion tour, Farrell responded with a legal filing claiming the band’s suit “fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.” Farrell lists 35 affirmative defenses, including accusations that Navarro has “unclean hands” and “failed to exercise reasonable care and diligence to mitigate [the] alleged claims and damages.” Farrell asserts he acted in good faith and seeks legal fees and costs related to the case, while the band’s attorney insists the lawsuit and video evidence strongly support their claims of assault, emotional distress, and breach of contract. While this legal dispute plays out in court, Farrell is due to make his first return to the stage since the public breakup of Jane’s Addiction, as the singer is set to appear at the upcoming ‘60th Anniversary Doors Celebration’ at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles on October 30. (Rolling Stone)

On Wednesday (September 10), Twisted Sister announced that they are reuniting for a 50th anniversary tour in 2026, marking their first full tour since the 2016 farewell run. Longtime bassist Mark Mendoza will not participate in the reunion, which will feature core members Dee Snider on vocals, founding guitarist (and longest serving member) Jay Jay French, and longtime lead guitarist Eddie Ojeda, alongside drummer Joe Franco (who was featured on their 1987 album Love Is for Suckers), and bassist Russell Pzütto, who has previously toured with the band and Snider’s solo projects. Despite past firm stances against reunions, the band is embracing the milestone with enthusiasm, celebrating nearly five decades of music and the fans who have supported them along the way. “If you’re lucky enough to be in a band that people still want to see after fifty years(!), how can you not answer the call,” Snider said. “In 2026, Twisted F**king Sister will hit stages around the world because WE STILL WANNA ROCK!!” No official tour dates have been announced as of yet. (Rolling Stone)

A newly unearthed document reveals David Bowie’s 15 favorite songs, showcasing his diverse musical tastes ranging from jazz and rock to obscure 1950s tunes. The list – which Bowie titled “Memo for radio show — list of favourite records” – includes artists such as Miles Davis ("Some Day My Prince Will Come"), Roxy Music ("Mother of Pearl"), the Beatles ("Across the Universe"), Jeff Beck (“Beck’s Bolero”), Little Richard ("True Fine Mama"), Ronnie Spector ("Try Some, Buy Some"), The Walker Brothers (“The Electrician”), and Sonic Youth ("Tom Violence"), among others. This eclectic list is part of the vast archive featured at the David Bowie Center in London, which opens to the public on Saturday (September 13). The song choices reflect Bowie’s lifelong appreciation for varied genres and influences, many of which he also covered during his career. The center’s opening coincides with this week’s release of a new 12-disc box set, David Bowie 6. I Can’t Give Everything Away (2002 to 2016), which documents the final 14 years of Bowie’s groundbreaking career. (Rolling Stone)

On Thursday (September 11), Gorillaz announced the details of their ninth studio album, The Mountain, which is set for release on March 20, 2026, via their new label KONG. The 15-track record features collaborations with Black Thought, Yasiin Bey, Johnny Marr, The Clash’s Paul Simonon, and the late actor Dennis Hopper, along with a guest appearance by Sparks on the project’s lead single, “The Happy Dictator.” Recorded across studios in London, India, and several international cities, the album will be available in multiple formats, alongside a book and art prints. According to a press release, “The band has turned its back on international pop stardom, as they navigate the mountainous terrain of this thing called life.” To support the album, Gorillaz – created by Blur’s Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett – will embark on The Mountain Tour across Europe, with the 10-date jaunt starting March 21 in Manchester and culminating with a June 20 show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with support coming from Trueno. (Variety)

A new tribute album, Killed By Deaf – A Punk Tribute to Motörhead, is set for release on October 31 via BMG Recordings, and features 14 punk covers of Motörhead classics by bands including Rancid, Pennywise, The Bronx, FEAR, Lagwagon, and GBH. Notably, the compilation includes a previously unreleased collaboration between Motörhead and The Damned titled "Neat Neat Neat," which was originally recorded back in 2002. A music video for the track was shared on Wednesday (September 10) to promote the upcoming release. Elsewhere on the album, Pennywise covers the iconic metal anthem “Ace of Spades,” while Rancid tackles “Sex & Death.” A press release for the project – which is available for pre-order on vinyl and CD – quotes the late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister as saying, “The punks loved us. The only reason we weren’t in that lot was because we had long hair, so obviously we must be heavy metal. But a lot of kids heard us without seeing a picture, so they thought we were a punk band.” (Consequence of Sound)