Today is Blink-182 Day – a fan-created celebration of the Californian rockers that's held annually on the 182nd day of the year.

Although an unofficial event, it's been recognised by the band themselves in recent years and they've flagged the day on their Facebook page this year too.

To mark the occasion – and while we wait for the 25th anniversary edition of Take Off Your Pants And Jacket on October 30 – I've picked out a number of Blink-182 products – everything from t-shirts and hats, to tote bags and concert posters.

Looking for rock-themed gifts?

• Gifts for Iron Maiden fans: Run To The Hills with our pick of perfect presents
• Best gifts for Ozzy and Sabbath fans: Our top picks
• Best presents for metalheads: Heavy-duty gift ideas

We're now into the final day of Amazon Prime Day, but if you're quick, there's still time to get a sweet discount on a fresh pile of rock and metal t-shirts. We've already had a look at some brilliant Sleep Token merch deals, but if your loyalties lie elsewhere, I've got you covered.

Let's kick things off in the US, where you can get this Black Sabbath World Tour 1978 Sketch t-shirt with a 20% discount – down from $24.99 to £19.99.

If you're in the UK and have been enjoying seeing Metallica on the latest leg of their M72 tour and want a throwback t-shirt, then there's 30% off this ...And Justice For All tee, which is down from £20 to just £13.98.

There are loads of cut-price tees on Amazon, but let's focus back in on the US for a bit.

Def Leppard are one of the biggest rock bands on the planet and I can recall going into my local HMV back in 1987 and buying Hysteria on cassette. I also saw them on that tour in Edinburgh, but I'm getting side-tracked by nostalgia! If you want to display your love of that era of the band, then this classic Hysteria t-shirt is down from $29.99 to $23.99.

Prefer your rock a little more classic? Then how about this Led Zeppelin 1975 US tour t-shirt? It's down from $24.99 to $20.79 and it's one of my favourite designs in this list of Prime Day t-shirt discounts.

If you're after something a little more straightforward, then this AC/DC red logo t-shirt should fit the bill – and it's down from $25.99 to $20.79. Meanwhile, Motorhead fans can get their fix with this awesome Snaggletooth design, which has been reduced from $24.99 to £19.99 and it's a bona fide classic look.

Let's take a look at the UK side of things again, and you really can't go wrong with a Pink Floyd The Dark Side Of The Moon design. It's down from £24.99 to 18.99 for Prime Day.

We're still getting over the loss of The Prince Of Darkness so if you'd like to pay homage to Ozzy, you can get your hands on a Diary of A Madman tee at Amazon, with the price cut from £24 down to £20.28.

Another classic logo design is on display with this no-nonsense Linkin Park tee, with the price cut from £24.99 to £20.99 making it a must-have for fans of the band.

My final pick goes to the band of the moment: Rush. Geddy and Alex are on tour right now with drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold – and the four of them are delivering spectacular shows. They won't be in the UK until next year, but while we wait, you can relive the good old days with this America 1977 Tour t-shirt – down from £24.99 to £20.99.

For more Prime Day discounts, take a look at Louder's Prime Day music deals page, our Prime Day turntable deals, and don't forget we're also collecting our favourite Prime Day vinyl deals too.

I’ll be totally honest with you, at least 25% of the clothes I own are Sleep Token-related. I went slightly nuts/bankrupt at the merch table during their late-2024 Take Me Back To Eden tour, last year at Download, and I even bought an ST tee at Primark last month, because that’s a thing now.

So, I was positively giddy when an email from Sleep Token hit my inbox announcing ‘Behold, Prime Day is here’. Now, Sleep Token aren't shy about merch drops (can we have a new tour instead please, lads?), but this sale is actually really decent: for a limited time you can save 15% off a range of Sleep Token clothing and merch for a limited time. I’ve also tracked down a 15% Amazon saving on Even In Arcadia double vinyl and a small discount on Sundowning on CD.

By ‘limited time’ I’m referring to the fact Prime Day is scheduled to end tomorrow (Friday 26 June) and currently there's no telling if these deals will stick around after this point.

I’ve been covering the Prime Day Music deals for a while now, but nothing brings me more joy than helping people save money on clobber relating to their (and my) favourite bands. And this one’s a doozy, so here goes.

The main thrust of the sale is clothing from Vessel and Co’s visually awesome Take Me Back To Eden era, featuring album art on everything from t-shirts and tanks, to hoodies and this rad iPhone case. You’ve got the characters from Granite, Rain and the album's title track to choose from. There’s also a couple of colourways for a cool This Place Will Become Your Tomb sigil design that is in my basket right now.

Elsewhere on the sale page, there’s some merch that I’ve not seen before - and isn’t actually on sale, dangit - but well worth checking out. In particular I love this stainless steel 30oz water bottle featuring the Sleep Token logo in Arcadia pink. There’s also a range of basic tees and hoods featuring the Sleep Token logo solo. There’s something for everyone here, and believe me when I say these prices are a fraction of what you’d pay at a show.

Get ‘em while they’re hot. Or as Sleep Token would say: Act with haste, nothing lasts forever.

Shop more Prime Day sales

• Amazon: Shop all the Prime Day deals
• Argos: Hundreds of sale items under £25
• Currys: Bluetooth speakers from £9.99
• EMP: Festival deals - Save up to 20%
• John Lewis: Up to 50% off AirPods
• Lego: Star Wars savings
• Nixon: Free shipping on the Nirvana watch

If you love metal and classic rock and love to collect things, then you need to check out the Funko Pop! range of vinyl figures.

There are a ridiculous amount of these pint-sized creations to discover, but to help steer you on your way, I've picked out a selection of some of my favourites that are on sale in both the US and UK this Prime Day.

One Funko Pop! Rocks legend that's on sale in the UK right now is AC/DC icon Angus Young which has been reduced from £22 to £14.04. There are many Funko Angus Youngs to find out in the wild, but this particular one is inspired by the cover art of the band's classic Powerage album.

In the US, meanwhile, Angus and the rest of the AC/DC gang are available in a single Funko box, complete with stage amps and cannons. Amazon has reduced the price from $160 to $130 and you can grab it right now.

Also in the US, Iron Maiden's mascot Eddie in his Night Of The Dead guise has received the Funko treatment, with the price down from $14.99 to $11.99.

Being a musician, filmmaker and producer to name but a few, there are many strings to Rob Zombie's bow, and he can now add Funko figure to his long list of achievements. His vinyl figure complete with zombie bandana is also on sale at Amazon, reduced from $14.99 to $12.49.

And that's not all, because The White Stripes’ Jack and Meg double pack is also down in price for Prime Day - from $23.99 to $14.02.

Back in the UK, there are plenty more Prime Day Funko discounts to be snaffled, including Ghost’s Papa Emeritus IV - down from from £13 to £9.94, and Guns N' Roses top-hat wearing guitar god Slash in all his Funko glory has been reduced from £13 to £8.90.

Much-loved Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury, wearing his iconic yellow military jacket from the band's 1986 Magic tour is also on sale, with the price cut from £11.90 to £9.52.

And if the hair side of mid-80's metal is more your thing, then this Funko figure of Jon Bon Jovi should be one for the collection. Wearing basically the same outfit as me when I saw Bon Jovi on the New Jersey tour back in the day, you can pick up the singer for £17.30, that's down from the usual price of £22.98.

For more Prime Day discounts, take a look at Louder's Prime Day music deals page, our Prime Day turntable deals, and don't forget we're also collecting our favourite Prime Day vinyl deals too.

Given that Fugazi have never shown any inclination whatsoever to sell merchandise, the launch of a news Fugazi x Vans trainers collection has raised eyebrows, and raised hackles online. Not least because this new collection has absolutely nothing to do with the Washington DC hardcore band.

"I’m guessing someone from vans will reach out to us," Dischord Records, the label co-founded and owned by Fugazi vocalist/guitarist Ian MacKaye posted on Instagram in response to Vans launching the line by offering free pairs of trainers to those showing up at Vans Le Marais in Paris.

The Fugazi that Vans are collaborating with is a Los Angeles streetwear company founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Trevor Gorji. In a hilariously over-the-top profile of the brand by NSS magazine, its described as "a brand that would defy norms and make luxury accessible without compromising on quality."

"Fugazi's success is not just about its products," the profile states. "The brand stands out for its narrative approach and commitment to the community... Each collection is accompanied by reflections on themes of authenticity, illusion, and resistance."

Forgive us if the irony here proves too much for you.

In case there was any doubt whatsoever that Gorji's company's collaboration with Vans is no in way affiliated with the band, Dischord Records also posted on the streetwear company's Instagram, "We have nothing to do with this to be clear."

When a skateboard company called Animus replied, "you should be, things change and no shame in the game, you deserve it", Dischord replied with a 'thoughtful face' emoji which here roughly translates as "Have you got the slightest fucking idea about our ethics?"

Capitalism, of course, abhors a vacuum, and if one of the most popular and inspirational bands from America's underground punk scene has zero interest in producing T-shirts, posters, hoodies or any other branded paraphernalia, then bootleggers have been only to happy to step in.

Type 'Fugazi T-shirt' into any search engine and you'll see scores of designs for sale on Amazon, Etsy and elsewhere. None are official merch, or in any way endorsed by the band, who have been on hiatus since completing a three-night stand at London's Kentish Town Forum in November 2002.

There is, however, one interesting outlier within the bootleg Fugazi T-shirt universe, a T-shirt bearing the slogan 'This Is Not A Fugazi T-Shirt'.

In the mid-90s, Ian MacKaye traced one of these 'fugazi' Fugazi shirts to a company in Boston, he revealed in an interview conducted for The Art Of The Band T-Shirt, and spoke with the main guy, telling him to desist.

"Of course, he wanted to do a deal," MacKaye said. "And, of course, the answer was still no. Still, we had a nice chat. He was curious why we didn’t want to sell shirts, and after I explained our position, he seemed to respect it. About one month later, a friend at a record store alerted me to the ‘This is not a Fugazi t-shirt’ shirt. I traced it back to the same Boston dude. What a smart motherfucker he was!"

"I called him up," MacKaye continued, "and said, Okay, you’re funny and you’re creative, so let’s see how creative you are with accounting. I asked him to choose an organization doing good work in his community and give them what would amount to the band’s royalty for the shirts. I think he chose a women’s shelter up there, and as far as I know he sent them money right up until he quit the business."

In 2013, a writer for defunkd followed up on the story, and learned that the owner of the T-shirt company did indeed honour his pledge to MacKaye, and donated money from every shirt sold to a women's homeless shelter in Boston named Rosie's Place.

Gamers around the world have been drooling with anticipation since it was announced that The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time is being remade for the Nintendo Switch 2, with the release date pencilled in for some point this year.

The original game was released for the N64 console back in 1998 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made, and while we patiently wait for further details to emerge, there's plenty for Zelda fans to get excited about this Prime Day, including a price drop on the Lego Great Deku Tree. The recreation of the Ocarina Of Time favourite is down from $520.92 to £459.

Be warned though, Prime Day comes to an end just before midnight tonight (June 26) so if you see something you like, grab it fast!

The Lego Nintendo Deku Tree is made up of 2500 pieces, so it should keep you entertained for a while. Not only that, but this Lego model can be turned into either the Ocarina Of Time version, or the Breath Of The Wild version. It also comes with three Link minifigures and Princess Zelda.

Speaking of Link's first outing on the original Switch console, The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild- Creating A Champion book has been reduced from £47.99 to £28, and it's an essential addition to any Zelda fan’s bookshelf. It features 424 pages of sketches, illustrations and commentary related to the award-winning video game.

Speaking of books, The Legend Of Zelda Encyclopedia has also had a price cut – down from £33.50 to £27.01. It's a comprehensive 320-page bible dedicated to the iconic series. And you can even carry a Zelda memento around with you, thanks to the super-cute Korok key-chain which is down from £12.54 to just £9.90.

If you’re exploring Tears Of The Kingdom on your Nintendo Switch, you can light up the Depths with this lovely Heart Container light. It has a Prime Day discount of 20%, with the price chopped from £24.99 to £19.89. It gently pulses when switched on too and is powered by batteries or via the included USB cable.

Back to the US, and gamers who have yet to experience the sprawling Tears Of The Kingdom can now do so with a 25% discount on the Switch 2 edition. Amazon has cut the price from $79.99 down to $59.99.

Stateside gamers can also pick up a digital code for the brilliant and imaginative Echoes Of Wisdom on Switch 1 for $39.99, reduced from $59.88. In the In the UK, you can pick up the cartridge edition for less too - down from £49.99 to £36.99.

While we wait for the Ocarina Of Time remake, you can show your love of the game with 15% off this classic t-shirt. Amazon have cut the price from $19.99 to $16.99 – and it’s available in a variety of colours.

My final pick goes to the Manga collection Twilight Princess Complete Box Set which spans 11 volumes. The Master Sword has been taken to the list price and it's now down from $129.99 to $101.33.

Global Beatles Day takes place on June 25 - a fan-created event that celebrates the anniversary of the first international satellite TV broadcast of The Beatles classic All You Need Is Love, which was beamed to an estimated 400 million people live from Abbey Road Studios back in 1967

And with the Prime Day savings n full swing, it seems only right to highlight some of The Beatles discounts that are available on Amazon right now - including massive savings on the The Beatles: Get Back hardcover book. The 240-page volume has been reduced from $60 to $23.24 in the US, while in the UK, it's down 68% from £40 to just £12.75.

The Beatles may have split up in 1970, but the legendary four-piece seem to be as popular now as they ever were. And with loads of discounts available for Prime Day, I've highlighted some of my other favourite deals below.

If you’re in the US, there's a nice saving on The Beatles: 1967-70 vinyl box set, which has been reduced by 16% from $75.98 to $64.12.

American fans also have access to the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band short-sleeve t-shirt which is down from $22.99 to $18.39 – and if you think you know everything about the George, Paul, John and Ringo, you test your knowledge with the officially licensed Beatles Trivial Pursuit game – down from $21.99 to $17.49. With over 600 themed questions, answering everything is going to take you a very long time indeed.

Across in the UK, you can get your hands on the The Beatles: Yellow Submarine graphic novel which is down in price from £26.99 to £21.99.

The 8CD Beatles Anthology Collection is also on sale for Prime Day, with Amazon taking the price down from £87.32 to £76.02. The collection includes a total of 191 tracks, including live songs and studio outtakes.

My final pick foes to this Abbey Road hoodie which Amazon have cut from £33.99 to £28.78. It's available from sizes S- XXL and you can order it in a variety of colours.

These are just some of many Beatles-themed discounts this Prime Day and to discover even more bargains, head on over to Louder's Prime Day music deals page which we're updating throughout the week. And don't forget to visit our pages highlighting the best Prime Day turntable deals, and we're also collecting our favourite Prime Day vinyl deals too.

By this point, we’re familiar with the concept of the spit ’n’ sawdust garage-blues duo. But Patrick Carney (drums) and Dan Auerbach (vocals/guitar) can stake a solid claim as originators of the format, launching The Black Keys in Akron, Ohio at the turn of the millennium, and finding their voice (alongside some revved-up covers of Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside) on 2002 debut album, The Big Come Up.

The pair’s history as music aficionados and vinylcrate magpies is writ large on the Keys’ latest album Peaches!, and Carney is happy to go deeper down the rabbit hole over a cigarette.

The first music I remember hearing

The first song I can remember being obsessed with was Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant. I’ve met a couple of other people around my age who also said it was a track that opened their eyes. There’s just something magical about it. In the video, he’s revving up a motorcycle. And it’s got, like, a modulating Minimoog bass line. Ever since then the fuzzy grind of a Minimoog has always done something for me.

The first song I performed live

Dan and I started with Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside songs, but the first time we played a rock’n’roll song, it was The Beatles’ She Said She Said. We were too young to know that covering The Beatles is not something you’re supposed to do. My dad gave me Revolver one year for my birthday, and that song just always stuck out to me.

The greatest album of all time

There’s been times when I thought it was London Calling, and other times when I thought it was The Dark Side Of The Moon or the White Album. But today, if I had to turn someone on to a record, I’d say Television’s Marquee Moon. There’s no singles or hits on it. But it’s just this melodic, wonderful thing, with two guitars interweaving in a way that’s not just shredding. There’s very few albums like that, and even that band was unable to create that magic before or after.

The songwriter

Bob Dylan. There’s definitely some hooks, but I think there’s a magical quality about his poetry. He had a run that was kind of unrelenting for about twenty years, into the late seventies, and I actually really enjoy a lot of his recent albums. My favourite is the Bootleg Series Volumes 1-3. I love a song like Santa-Fe, where you can barely even tell what he’s saying. I like the demo quality of it. It’s not precious, it’s capturing a feeling

The guitarist

Marc Ribot, maybe. My uncle played with him in Tom Waits’ band, and when Rain Dogs came out I was five, and my dad would play it all the time. So I grew up with his guitar playing. I love the tone that he gets, even on his acoustic stuff. I like a musician who, when they pick up an instrument, you can tell from the first note it’s them playing.

The singer

I think I’m gonna go with Al Green. He has a run of albums that started in, like, ’71 through about ’75, including Al Green Gets Next To You and Let’s Stay Together. I like the Hi Records sound and the Willie Mitchell production. There’s something about that era of Memphis, post-Stax, that I’m very fond of.

The best band I've seen live

There’s been moments when I’ve just been floored, and a lot of that happened when I was a teenager. The first time I saw Beck, in ’96, was pretty powerful. He’s a total showman and has songs that translate well live. It was at a place in Cleveland in front of, like, seven hundred people on the Odelay tour. It was a kind of supernatural experience.

My cult hero

In my book, there’s a ton of bands that even if they’re highly rated, they’re still underrated. Then there’s a lot of bands that are just way fucking overrated. I think Modest Mouse is underrated. If you listen to their first four albums, it’s kind of fucked up what they did there. And they were only kids. I think they were seventeen or eighteen when that first record came out.

My guilty pleasure

I’m kind of interested in late-period Italian disco. And some of that stuff can be borderline cheeseball.

The anthem

I think (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction is designed that way. It’s the Stones’ first great song. It starts a long pattern of them making great singles. It sounds ahead of its time. It’s one of the first songs to use a fuzzbox – and I’m a sucker for a fuzzbox.

My Saturday night party song

It might be The Slits’ cover of I Heard It Through The Grapevine. A buddy played it for me a couple of years ago and I was like: “Yeah, this is just familiar enough”. But then it transforms towards the end into a pretty solid groove. It walks that line between postpunk and disco, which is always fun.

The song I want played at my funeral

Maybe everybody should make a death playlist that gets unsealed when they die. But I wouldn’t put sad songs on it. I think a good song to play at a funeral is Someone Great by LCD Soundsystem.

Peaches! is out now via Easy Eye Sound/Warner

Father's Day will be with us on Sunday, June 21 so if you've been struggling for ideas, I've picked out 15 products that should cover your music-loving, pop-culture-obsessed dad - and if you're quick, everything here should be delivered before the day itself.

I've covered a range of budgets: from £12.99 - £199.99 and included a Slayer vinyl box set, a brilliant portable turntable from the experts at Audio-Technica, a Sleep Token colouring book, a pair of SHOKZ headphones, a brilliant JBL portable speaker, a Metallica t-shirt and whole lot more.

So dive in and hopefully I've given you some inspiration for your dad this Father's Day.

More gift ideas

• Gifts for Iron Maiden fans: Run To The Hills with our pick of perfect presents
• Best gifts for Ozzy and Sabbath fans: Our top picks
• Best presents for metalheads: Heavy-duty gift ideas

A Trick of The Tail, the seventh studio album from Genesis, is 50 years old this year. To celebrate the band are on the cover of the new issue of Prog Magazine as we explore how they survived the departure of Peter Gabriel and set sail on a new and even more successful journey.

And Prog has teamed up with the band to offer fans this world-exclusive limited edition bundle, featuring a really cool Genesis A Trick Of The Tail t-shirt you're not going to find anywhere else, along with a bespoke cover of issue 170!

It's unavailable in shops or on merch stands, numbers are limited and the only place you can get the bundle is here, from the Prog online store! Get yours here!

“There was a lot of luck to have a singer in the band who was good enough to take over from Peter,” Tony Banks recalls in the new issue, “and that’s why fans had no trouble in recognising Phil as ‘the man.’”

“I was always aware Phil was waiting in the wings, but I never thought he would want to leave his drums,” adds Mike Rutherford.

As well as Genesis, the new issue of Prog features Yes, Hawkwind, Clannad, Devin Townsend, Bruce Soord, Crown Lands, Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien, The Claypool Lennon Delirium and loads more.

Read all about the new issue of Prog here.

Get your exclusive Genesis A Trick Of The Tail t-shirt here.

It's May 4 and that means it's officially Star Wars Day - a day in the cosmic calendar where fans of the long-running sci-fi classic gather to watch all sorts of content from a galaxy far, far away. That's made easier this year with this cracking limited-time deal on Disney+ - the home to the entire Star Wars saga.

But if you already have a sub and are looking for a gift for a fellow Star Wars fan or a treat for yourself, I've picked out 15 Star Wars-themed items that will go down easier than Boba Fett into the sarlacc's massive maw!

There's collectable figures, video games, board games, mugs and more - and as someone who saw the original the first time around, I think these are great fun.

Read merch ideas

• Gifts for Iron Maiden fans: Run To The Hills with our pick of perfect presents
• Best gifts for Ozzy and Sabbath fans: Our top picks
• Best presents for metalheads: Heavy-duty gift ideas

Amazon's Big Spring Sale kicked-off last week and will run all the way through until Tuesday, March 31. We've already seen some brilliant savings on rock and metal t-shirts, a huge saving on a Rush box set, heavy discounts on Sony headphones and there's even a 74% saving on a NordVPN package which comes with an Amazon Gift Card worth $50.

But my head has been turned by a bunch of Star Wars merch that would struggle to fit into the Millennium Falcon's smuggling compartments.

I've been a fan of the films since I saw the original movie at the cinema back in the misty days of 1977 and I've picked out 12 of my favourite Star Wars-shaped discounts that have me salivating like a hungry Rancor.

There's collectables, video games, board games, books and more - just remember that the Big Spring Sale will be coming to an end in the next few hours - so stay on target and let the Force guide you to a nice deal.

Oh, and don't forget that Disney+ is home to the entire Star Wars universe so if you want to binge all the films and spin-offs, grab a subscription and settle down with a bucket of popcorn.

Earlier this month, Amazon UK held its first sales event of the year - now it's the turn on Amazon US to get in on the action with the Big Spring Sale rolling from March 25 through until Tuesday, March 31.

Among all the sweet discounts of vinyl, CDs, speakers, turntables and headphones, there's loads of savings on rock, metal and general music-themed t-shirts.

I've had a look through what's on offer and picked out 12 of my favourites which you can find below - and that includes 20% off the timeless Guns N' Roses Appetite For Destruction Skull Cross tee. I had one just like this back in the day but this print is available in a number of color variations.

This year's Mother's Day takes place on Sunday, March 15, but rather than go down the usual flowers and chocolates route, why not pick out something with a bit of a rock and metal edge instead?

I've picked out a pile of present ideas that will hopefully give you some inspiration when it comes to choosing a great gift for your mother, and that includes a cracking Slayer vinyl box set, a Megadeth blanket, vampire tear candles, skull-emblazoned cushion covers and a timeless AC/DC t-shirt that's available in a range of sizes and colours.

It's also worth noting that in the UK, Amazon are currently holding their Spring Deal Days shopping event that runs right through until March 16, giving you plenty more gift options for Mother's Day.

Read more

• Best gifts for metalheads: Heavy-duty gift ideas
• Gifts for Ozzy and Sabbath fans: Check out our top picks
• Present ideas for Iron Maiden fans: T-shirts, vinyl & more
• 12 must-read music books: Ozzy, Lemmy, Slash!

The estate of late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott have announced a "robust event and merchandising plan" to celebrate what would have been his 80th birthday on July 9. The announcement comes on the anniversary of his death in 1980.

The products will include a collaboration with German studio specialist Neumann, limited edition silver and gold bars bearing Bon’s name and likeness from the Perth Mint, an artwork from renowned artist and Mental As Anything frontman Reg Mombassa, and a new Bon Scott figurine from Knucklebonz.

The Knucklebonz figurine will be based on images from AC/DC's Powerage tour in 1978, following previous editions that celebrated 1979's Highway To Hell edition and the 1976 It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N Roll).

Elsewhere, the Dixxon Flannel Co will produce a limited-edition Bon Scott shirt in 'Heritage' tartan, Copa Football Jerseys will launch a 'Bon 80' football shirt, and a range of Bon 80 merch will be available from the Bon Scott online store.

In addition, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is providing Bon Scott video content to his official YouTube channel, which will also host a series of interviews with fans, including Rick Springfield, Bruce Howe (from Bon's pre-AC/DC band Fraternity), Sammy Hagar and Anthrax's Scott Ian.

"I was a Bon Scott fan," says Hagar. "I mean, when I first heard his voice, I said, as a singer this guy's cool. I like the way he sings, he's giving it all. He was always on the edge of his voice cracking. Just one more step and he would lose it. You know? It's like a car driver on the edge in a race and just, almost lose it at every turn. And that's how you win a race.

"So, I really liked that about him. Finally, in 76 or 77, shortly after the Montrose thing, I was on a show with AC/DC, a little 2000-seat theatre or something, and I was opening and I was really excited about that. He was really animated. And, I watched the whole show. I just loved him. I loved his demeanour. Bon was the kind of person that every guy in rock and roll loves. He's just the coolest guy."

“Bon’s attitude, demeanour and front man swagger gave him the Everyman persona that the world loved him for," says Rob Halford. "His voice, look, and on-stage character drew us all in - there’s an unmatched uniqueness that solidifies Bon's legendary status in rock'n'roll.”

"Bon Scott was the coolest singer ever – the vocal delivery, the tongue-in-cheek double entendres and the magnetic personality," says Lars Ulrich. "Those early AC/DC records – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock, Powerage, Highway To Hell – are just fucking timeless."

“Watching all those early videos like Jailbreak and stuff, it’s the best," adds Josh Homme. "I mean, AC/DC have got to be in my top one and a half favourite bands of all-time. Bon Scott could sing about rock‘n’roll, which is a hard thing to do and take seriously.”

Bonfest, the International Bon Scott Rock Festival, will take place in Kirriemuir, Scotland on May 1-3, while the third annual Bon’s Birthday Bash will take place in New York City on July 6.

Monday, February 16, 2026 marks Presidents' Day in the US - a day that was originally established in 1879 to honour the birthday of the first US president, George Washington, who was born on February 22.

Originally called Washington's Birthday, the name was changed in 1971 to Presidents’ Day and it now takes place on the third Monday every February - and with it being a federal holiday, many online retailers cut prices on a whole range of products to mark the event.

I’ve picked out a selection of excellent deals on everything from portable CD players and headphones, to Funko collectables and t-shirts which you can find below.

But before you scroll down, I've got to give a massive shout-out to Hot Topic, who currently have a site-wide sale on offering up to 70% off a huge range of clothing, collectables, pin badges, quirky gifts and more. There's only a limited time left, so grab something straight away if you see something you love.

If you're a fan of tv and film streaming services, YouTube TV has a nice offer over Presidents' Day. Sign up now, and you'll save $46 for your first two months. That's down from the usual monthly price of $82.99 to $59.99. You also get a 10-day free trial thrown in for good measure.

Presidents' Day deals

• Amazon: Daily deals and more
• Best Buy: Major tech savings
• Guitar Center: Up to 30% off for Presidents' Day
• Hot Topic: Up to 70% off site-wide
• Lego: Savings on family favourites
• Marshall: Massive Loud For Less sale
• Target: Deals on headphones and speakers
• Walmart: Tech picks and more

Metallica and footwear brand Dr. Martens have teamed up for two new limited-edition designs - and they’re both available to buy right now.

The first pair are the iconic 1460 8-eye leather boots, which have been given the Pushead treatment on both sides of the boot and on the front.

Dr. Martens say: “We’ve partnered with the band that brought metal kicking and screaming to the global stage. Our limited-edition 1460 boot is a testament to the enduring impact Metallica’s music has on their legions of fans.

“Cut from durable Backhand leather and emblazoned with artwork from Metallica’s seminal 1988 Damaged Justice tour, created by the artist Pushead. Each pair is equipped with a Metallica ‘M’ heel stud, special edition dog tags, and a secondary set of laces printed with ‘Boredom comes from a boring mind’.

“The 8-eye boot is set on our traditional DMS sole, finished with a yellow welt stitch and AirWair heel loop. This is for everyone who can answer “How does it feel to be alive?'”

The second pair are the 1461 3-eye shoes which also feature distinctive Pushed artwork, with “Damage” on one side, and “Inc Tour” on the other.

The 1460 boots are priced at $200/£190, while the 1461 shoes cost $180/£160 - and both are available through the official Dr. Martens website.

The collaboration with Metallica isn’t the first time Dr. Martens has dipped its toe into the music world. The company previously produced a range of Black Sabbath footwear, manufactured Sex Pistols-themed boots, delivered a range of footwear produced alongside the iconic CBGB club, and a released a range of goods featuring the Who's target logo.

Whether you like picking up a band t-shirt at a show, prefer to dive in online after the event, or grab a classic look from the past, one thing you can be sure of is a vast number of designs - from shop exclusive tees through to limited edition prints.

I've taken a look at some eye-catching band-branded t-shirts in both the US and UK and picked out a selection of my favourites that include artists such as Sleep Token, Guns N' Roses, Soundgarden, Van Halen and Pixies.

Where to shop

• Amazon: Hundreds of music-themed tees
• EMP: Hoodies, t-shirts & more
• Hot Topic: Pop culture merch
• Walmart: Tees and tech
• BestBuy: Band merch, vinyl & more
• Townsend Music: Merch, bags, CDs

One of music’s greatest frontmen Ozzy Osbourne, sadly passed away last year at the age 76, but his incredible legacy lives on in the shape of the rock legend's brilliant music – not to mention the awesome Ozzy and Black Sabbath merchandise that you can get your hands on. From hats and t-shirts to posters and calendars, there’s a whole load of great stuff dedicated to Ozzy and the British music icons.

This is great news for anyone who has a Sabbath-loving mate or family member and is wondering what to buy them for a birthday or as a special treat this year. To help you find a perfect gift, myself and the Louder team have hand-picked some of the best Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath products on the market. All you have to do is order what you want and wrap it up!

Wrapping paper

When choosing a gift for a fan of Ozzy and Sabbath, picking the right wrapping paper shouldn't be an afterthought. With that in mind, we found this brilliant design by Burning Innovations on Etsy. It looks fantastic and will go well with an music gift you choose to give this year.

• Shop Etsy US
• Shop Etsy UK

Gift cards

If you've left things to the last minute and an online order is unlikely to come through in time, don't worry as there are several gift cards you can buy covering a number of the big online retailers. The ones we've picked out below all have the option of being delivered via email on the day itself.

• Amazon: You can send a standard or animated digital gift card direct to their email with your own personal message. Prices start at $10/£10
• Sweetwater: Have e-Gifts available and you can also add your own personal message which will be dropped into your their inbox.
• Guitar Center: Have digital gift cards and physical cards available. These can be put towards gear, lessons, repairs and rentals.
• Thomann: If your friend or family member is into music tech, then Thomann have three gift card options available which can be delivered via post, email or SMS.
• Etsy: Home to a wide range of products, Etsy also have a range of gift card options which can be sent directly to them or to your own email.

Where to shop

US retailers

• Amazon | Tech, Lego, vinyl & more
• Best Buy | Massive tech savings
• Bose | Save up to 45%
• Converse | Big 2026 discounts
• Displate | Unique metal-printed posters
• Etsy | Explore indie retailers
• Guitar Center | Grab a deal today
• Hot Topic | Band merch, toys & more
• Lego | Star Wars, Marvel sets and more
• Marshall | Headphones & speakers
• Nixon | Home of the Nirvana watch
• Positive Grid | Awesome smart amps
• Sweetwater | Instrument and gear deals
• Target | Tech, headphones & speakers
• Walmart | Explore all the tech deals

UK retailers

• Amazon | Daily deals on tech & more
• AO | PS5, Xbox & Nintendo Switch
• Argos | Tech, Lego kits & more
• Bose: Shop headphones & more
• Converse | Save up to 50%
• Currys | Massive electrical deals
• EMP | CDs, vinyl, merch & more
• Etsy | Show indie retailers some love
• John Lewis | Discount on electricals and more
• Marshall | Iconic headphones & speakers
• Nixon | Home of the Rolling Stones watch
• Positive Grid | Killer smart amp savings
• Thomann | Save on instruments & gear
• Townsend Music | Winter sale now on

There’s no two ways about it – Iron Maiden are one of THE best bands to ever grace this planet. Armed with a whole load of classic tracks, dazzling sleeve art and, of course, one of rock’s most iconic mascots in Eddie, they’ve won over millions of music fans worldwide.

If you have a friend or family member who’s mad about Maiden, you might want to buy them a present themed around the rock icons. But where can you find inspiration for such a gift? The answer is right here!

I've put together a list of Maiden-related products that your loved one will cherish, ranging from colouring books to calendars, socks to special-edition vinyl. Whichever one you pick, you’re guaranteed to make someone very happy.

And for more present ideas, don't forget to take a look at out guide to the best gifts for music lovers.

Wrapping paper

When choosing a gift for the Maiden fan in your life, it might be a good idea to get some awesome metal-themed wrapping paper rather than paper with snowmen on it. I love this heavy metal-inspired paper from It's A Wrap Creations which hits exactly the right tone.

• Shop Etsy US
• Shop Etsy UK

Gift cards

If you've left getting something special for your Maiden-loving friend until the last minute, don't worry – we have several gift card options available from some of the biggest online retailers. All the ones we've selected have the option to be delivered to your their email address on the day itself.

• Amazon: You can send a standard or animated digital gift card direct to their email with your own personal message. Prices start at $10/£10
• Sweetwater: Have e-Gifts available and you can also add your own personal message which will be dropped into your their inbox.
• Guitar Center: Have digital gift cards and physical cards available. These can be put towards gear, lessons, repairs and rentals.
• Thomann: If your friend or family member is into music tech, then Thomann have three gift card options available which can be delivered via post, email or SMS.
• Etsy: Home to a wide range of products, Etsy also have a range of gift card options which can be sent directly to them or to your own email.

Where to shop

US retailers

• Amazon | Tech, Lego, vinyl & more
• Best Buy | Massive tech savings
• Bose | Holiday sale now on
• Converse | Save up to 40%
• Displate | Unique metal-printed posters
• Etsy | Explore indie retailers
• Guitar Center | Grab a deal today
• Hot Topic | Band merch, toys & more
• Lego | Star Wars, Marvel sets and more
• Marshall | Headphones & speakers
• Nixon | Home of the Nirvana watch
• Positive Grid | Awesome smart amps
• Sweetwater | Instrument and gear deals
• Target | Tech, headphones & speakers
• Walmart | Explore all the tech deals

UK retailers

• Amazon | Daily deals on tech & more
• AO | PS5, Xbox & Nintendo Switch
• Argos | Tech, Lego kits & more
• Bose: Shop headphones & more
• Converse | Loads of shoes and accessories
• Currys | Massive electrical deals
• EMP | CDs, vinyl, merch & more
• Etsy | Show indie retailers some love
• John Lewis | Discount on electricals and more
• Marshall | Iconic headphones & speakers
• Nixon | Home of the Rolling Stones watch
• Positive Grid | Killer smart amp savings
• Thomann | Save on instruments & gear
• Townsend Music | Winter sale now on

“1990s grunge-royalty three-piece Nirvana” and “tasteful analogue timepieces” are not often – if ever – bidden to share the same sentence. But I’ve done it now. And not for nothing, either. The iconic band’s iconic iconography was immortalised last year in a series of special edition wristwatches by American brand Nixon - and for Black Friday, the price of the Nirvana Sentry Wobble is down from $375 to $281.25 in the US, while in the UK, the price has been cut from £410 to £307.50.

Aside from the Nirvana Sentry Wobble, you can also get your hands on the Nirvana Sentry Leather at a discount on both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, it's down from $300 to $225 - and in the UK you can get one around your wrist for £206.25, that's down from £275.

The third and final Nirvana offering from Nixon is the Nirvana Time Teller - down from $225 to $168.75. Sadly, that particular timepiece has now sold out in the UK, but with 25% off across the Nixon site, you way very well find something else that takes your fancy.

With Black Friday deals fully ‘In Bloom’ (geddit?), the chances of these watches remaining available for long is slim. So if there's something you like, I say grab it while you can!

For more discounts, don't forget to check out our favourite Black Friday music deals page, which we're updating regularly.

More Black Friday content

• Black Friday CD deals: Classics, remasters & more
• Black Friday vinyl deals: Spin a brilliant bargain
• Black Friday record player deals: Spin a top bargain
• Black Friday CD player deals: Top bargains on CD players
• Black Friday MP3 player deals: Digital players for less
• Black Friday streaming deals: TV, film & music discounts

In my opinion, no festive party is complete without a smattering of hellish-looking Christmas jumpers to get people talking. And let's forget about the Rudolph-themed knits with his big pop-pom nose, or pullovers with Santa laughing merrily on his sleigh. What I'm talking about are those rock and metal-themed jumpers that'll cause consternation at the office party or at family get-togethers.

While picking out a bunch of Black Friday music deals, I found myself going down the rabbit hole when it came to the type of Christmas jumper that are most definitely an acquired taste - and I've included a wardrobe full of my favourites below - all of which are on discount for Black Friday at EMP.

And if you're after more distinctive Christmas jumpers, Amazon and Hot Topic have piles to sift through too. Good luck!

More Black Friday content

• Black Friday vinyl deals: Prepare to spin a box set bargain
• Black Friday CD deals: Classics, remasters & more
• Black Friday record player deals: Spin a top bargain
• Black Friday CD player deals: Top bargains on CD players
• Black Friday MP3 player deals: Digital players for less
• Black Friday streaming deals: TV, film & music deals

We’re now into the second and final day of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days and there are still loads of amazing Prime Day music deals to grab. There’s even a nice saving on the Lego C-3PO model which was featured yesterday.

And if Lego Star Wars is your thing, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite sets that are discounted - and that includes 25% off the massive 7541-piece Millennium Falcon set. Amazon UK have booted the old price of £734.99 into the trash compactor and it has come out the other side and available now for £550.90.

Sadly, the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy isn’t on sale in the US, but you can get 20% off the 1050-piece Lego R2-D2 kit, with Amazon US taking a blaster to its usual price of $99.99 to $79.99.

• Shop Lego's official sale

So, what other Lego Star Wars kits are available in the final hours of Amazon Big Deal Days?

I’ve already mentioned the Millennium Falcon – one of the most sought-after Lego sets in existence, but if that's already in your collection, Jango Fett’s Starship from Attack Of The Clones is on sale on Amazon US for $59.99 - that's down from $69.99. It's also on sale in the UK, down from £59.99 to £49.99.

On to the land-based vehicles, and I have a real soft spot for the AT-ST Walker - the two-legged terror-monger from the forest of Endor. This 1,513-piece set has dropped in price on Amazon UK from £179.99 to £139.99 – a saving of 22%.

Elsewhere, there’s the Return Of The Jedi Desert Skiff & Sarlaac Pit, a fun set that contains 558 pieces and promises oodles of playtime when constructed. On Amazon US, it's down 30% from $79.99 to $55.99, while in the UK, you can grab one for £56.99 rather than its usual price of £69.99.

This kit also comes with six Lego Star Wars minifigures including Luke, Han, Chewie and Lando. But best of all is the Boba Fett figure which you can flick into the Sarlaac's maw whenever you feel like it!

The Mandalorian on Disney+ (the home to the entire Star Wars galaxy) took us all by surprise when it premiered - especially the popularity of Baby Yoda, aka Grogu.

If you're one of those Star Wars fans whose heart was captured by the wee green child, then there's money off the 1,048-piece Grogu With Hover Pram Lego kit. In the US, Amazon have discounted the kit from $99.99 to $69.99. And UK customers are also taken care of, with the cost reduced 30% from £89.99 to £62.99.

If you're looking for more last-minute bargains, feel free to check out our guides to the best Prime Day vinyl deals and Prime Day turntable deals.

Amazon’s annual Prime Big Deal Days is coming to an end at midnight tonight and there have been a whole bunch of awesome Prime Day music deals over the last two days. And if you're after some new rock and metal t-shirts, there's still time to get one or two - but you're going to have to be quick.

I’ve been sifting through what’s on offer on both Amazon US and Amazon UK and picked out my favourites, including the classic Guns N’ Roses Vintage Cross t-shirt, which is down 20% in the US - reduced from $24.99 to $19.99.

Meanwhile, in the UK, there’s 20% off Black Sabbath’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath tee - down from £25.99 to £20.29.

I’ve highlighted both sales below along with some of my top picks, starting in the US.

Remember, October Prime Day ends at midnight tonight, so if you see something you like, grab it fast!

US t-shirt deals

My first pick is the Black Sabbath Official Vintage Negative t-shirt which is down from $24.99 to $19.99. It has a striking design and features “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” across the front. Save 20%.

My next choice is the Sleep Token Butterflies t-shirt in black - down 16% from $34.47 to $28.99. It's an officially licensed product and is made from soft-style cotton.

Classic rock fans should take a peek at the Led Zeppelin US Tour 1975 crew neck shirt. It's down from $14 to just $11.20 making it a bit of a steal. The colours really pop and you can get it in black or heather grey.

Aerosmith's classic logo is front and centre of this classic tee and it's available in a range of colours. The sale price is $19.99 - down from its usual $24.99 price tag. I'd say the Cranberry Red colour scheme is my personal favourite.

Korn fans might be interested in this Swing Set Cover t-shirt, which takes it's inspiration from the band's 1994 debut album. It's down from $25.99 to $20.79.

UK t-shirt deals

Let’s kick off the UK Prime Big Deal Days t-shirt discounts with this AC/DC t-shirt featuring the band’s iconic logo. The distressed design is particularly eye-catching and you can have one in your collection for £20.79 - down from its usual price of £25.99.

And talking of iconic designs, this Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon tee has been reduced by 30%, taking it down from £25 to £17.49.

Def Leppard's classic Hysteria album was a monster hit around the world and still stands up today, so there should be a few people out there who'd like a new t-shirt. This one is down from £25.99 to £20.79.

Time to celebrate all things Blink-182 with this cool-looking neon style t-shirt featuring the band name. It's available in a bunch of colours and you can have it with 20% off - down from £25.99 to £20.79.

I'll wrap things up with another classic: Black Sabbath's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath t-shirt featuring the iconic cover design. Again, this one is available in a range of colours and it's down from £25.99 to £20.79.

Amazon Prime Big Deals Days has returned, bringing with it savings across the board on a whole pile of Lego bricks, but one of my favourite models is the 1138-piece set of everyone’s favourite Star Wars droid, C-3PO.

Amazon UK have slashed the price from £124.99 to £87.99 - a 30% saving, while in the US, you can nab Goldenrod with a 20% discount - down from $139.99 to $111.95.

The last time I saw Threepio in this many parts, was in Bespin’s Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back, after he was blasted by a trigger-happy stormtrooper. Thankfully Chewbacca was on hand to rebuild him, although I think the Wookie would struggle with this particular kit given the size of his hands (paws?).

Anyway, once complete, Anakin's pet project stands at 15 inches tall and his arms and head can be moved in different poses. The kit also comes with a C-3PO Lego mini figure, stand and plaque celebrating the 25th anniversary of Star Wars.

Just don’t place him near any Jawas, or you might find him missing in the morning. If that’s the case, contact your local sandcrawler.

And if you're a Star Wars fan, don't forget that Disney+ is the home of the Star Wars galaxy, with all the classic films, series, specials and animated episodes available to stream.

Looking for more deals during Amazon Big Deal Days? Then don't forget to take a look at all the best Prime Day music deals, Prime Day vinyl deals and Prime Day turntable deals.

There’s just hours to go in Walmart’s massive Bricktember sales event which has up to 30% off dozens of Lego sets including Star Wars, Marvel, Minecraft, Harry Potter, Disney and Nintendo kits.

To get you started, the Lego Star Wars Tantive IV starship from the opening scene of A New Hope is down from $79.99 to $63.95. For your cash, you’ll get the 654-piece set which includes all 11 of the ship's engines and turbolaser mounts - plus is comes with a buildable display stand.

Below, you’ll find more of my favourite Lego bargains you can grab if you’re quick at Walmart’s Bricktember sales event.

Staying in a galaxy far, far away, we have this Kylo Ren two-in-one Star Wars bundle. Not only do you get the chance to build Kylo’s famous helmet, but you also get his Command Shuttle - and both can be displayed on their own stands. Walmart have knocked the price down from $139.98 to $98 - a lightsaber-swinging saving of over $40.

There’s also a saving on the 2025 Lego Star Wars advent calendar, down from $44.99 to $38. Behind ever window is a figure or item from the sci-fi saga - something to brighten up those cold December mornings without having to take a weekend trip to Mustafar.

If Harry Potter is more your thing, then there’s a spellbinding three-in-one package deal featuring the Chomping Monster Book Of Monsters, Sorting Hat and Mandrake sets. The trio of Lego sets has been reduced from $229.97 to $165 - a deal that makes me want to sing out loud without the need of a Cantis spell!

Nintendo fever is back again after the big launch of the Switch 2 back in June - and if you can’t get enough Ninty goodness, then there’s a nice saving on the Lego Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set. It’s down from $129.99 to $104 and shows the cheeky rascals in all their SNES glory. There’s even a handle on the base to make everyone’s favourite green dinosaur run.

Staying in the video game world, you can also get your pixelated paws on the Lego Minecraft Gift Set - a box containing five sets: Steve’s Desert Expedition, The Armory, The Nether Lava Battle, The Illager Desert Patrol and The Lush Cave Fight. It’s down from $60.95 to $45 and would make an ideal gift for the Minecraft fan in your family.

If you're on the hunt for more great deals, don't forget that Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is running next week on October 7 & 8. Myself and the Louder team will be bringing you all the best bargains on Lego and more as we find them over the two days.

If you're looking to freshen up your wardrobe with more rock and metal t-shirts, you're in luck because Hot Topic are running a site-wide flash sale with 30% off a whole pile of tees, hoodies, merch, patches, posters and more.

One of my favourite t-shirts in the sale is this awesome Sleep Token Sundowning Runes & Flowers tees which is down from $24.90 to $17.43 and is available in S, M, L, XL, 2X and 3X.

Not a fan of Vessel and co? Then don't worry as there are loads of eye-popping designs available from artists including Metallica, AC/DC, Deftones, My Chemical Romance, AFI, Black Sabbath, Coheed & Cambria, Def Leppard, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Jane’s Addiction, Judas Priest, Kiss, Motörhead and more.

To grab a discount, you'll have to be quick because the sale ends tonight (Tuesday, September 30). You'll also find some other of my top picks below.

I've picked out a few more of my favourite band t-shirts - and a couple of extra bargains I think are too good to miss.

First up is this Nine Inch Nails Self Destruct 1994 Tour replica t-shirt. It’s down from $26.90 to $18.83 and features Trent Reznor onstage with the classic NIN logo on the back.

Bringing things a bit more up to date is this Iron Maiden The Future Past World Tour 2024 t-shirt. It’s also down from $26.90 to $18.83 and features striking Eddie artwork on the front and back. And speaking of Eddie, you can also get your paws on the Iron Maiden Mummy Lightning t-shirt for $20.23 - that’s down from its usual price of $28.90.

I love the design of this Ghost Papa Emeritus Stone Tablets t-shirt which has been reduced from $24.90 to $17.42, while the Nameless Ghouls sweatshirt will keep you warm in the winter, and it’s down from $48.90 to $34.23.

If you like your rock a little more classic, then take a look at this Led Zeppelin 1977 US tour t-shirt which is down from $24.90 to $17.43.

My final pick goes to The Cure Wish Tour t-shirt from the good old days of 1992. This blue, black and white cotton tee is down from $24.90 to $17.43 and it’s one of my favourite designs in the sale.

If you're after more great deals, don't forget that Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is running next week on October 7 & 8. Myself and the Louder team will be bringing you all the best bargains as we find them over the two days.

In October last year, accessories brand Nixon released a range of Nirvana watches - four timepieces that continued the company’s longtime association with musical artists that includes Metallica, Grateful Dead and The Rolling Stones.

Now they’ve launched the Special Edition Nirvana Sentry Wobble - a watch that takes its inspiration from Kurt Cobain’s famous smiley face design, complete with contorted face.

The original wobble design was presented in yellow, white, black and silver, with the eye-catching new model featuring a blue face, yellow design and Matte Super Black solid stainless steel casing.

Nixon explain: “Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Meet the Nirvana Sentry Wobble. Our iconic mid-size analog watch has been bent, molded, and contorted to match Cobain's hand drawn iconic smile graphic found on the dial and crown.

“The face pops with depth and detail, and the solid stainless steel case, hardened mineral crystal, and waterproof rating of 50m allow for everyday use.”

The watch is available exclusively through the official Nixon website and is priced at $375/£335. However, if you sign up to the Nixon Insiders programme, you can get 10% off your first order - and there’s free shipping on orders $/£150 and above.

Every home needs a centrepiece to get people talking when they visit – and I reckon a massive Lego Imperial Star Destroyer would fit the bill nicely - and with so many Prime Day Lego deals happening, this is one that really stands out from the crowd.

Amazon US has taken a lightsaber to the price of the 1555-piece Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer, taking the price down from $159.99 to $111.99 - a 30% discount.

If you're in the UK, you can get a 15% saving on the same set, with Amazon reducing the price from £149.99 to £127.45.

Whether you want it for yourself or as a present for your kids, this model will look incredible once built. Not only does it measure a whopping 6x18x11 inches (HxLxD), but it features lots of cool details – I'll tell you about those further down the page.

Being a Star Wars fan can be an expensive business, what with all the box sets, lightsabers and other merchandise you have to buy. And Lego Star Wars sets are right up there with the costliest items. That’s why it’s always a good idea to wait for one of the major retail events like Prime Day to see if you can get some money off, so this discount on the Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer is excellent.

Building this model should be especially satisfying as it sports some pretty neat features – including a foldout carry handle, two spring-loaded shooters, a lift-off top panel and fold-out side panels for interior access. And then, inside, you have a bridge, a break room, an armoury, control panels and a cargo box with Kyber Crystal and thermal detonators.

The set also comes with seven minifigures, including Darth Vader and Commander Praji, plus a special 25^th-anniversary edition of Cal Kestis. Whether you place them around the ship as part of a static display or deploy them as part of some epic roleplaying, this inspiring Lego set is guaranteed to bring some joy into your life.

If you're after more discounts, don't forget to look at our Prime Day Music deals page, and we're also collecting all the Prime Day turntable deals and Prime Day vinyl deals.

The door is slowly closing on the Prime Day music deals, with Amazon's big summer sales event coming to a close at midnight on Friday. The good news is there's still time to save on a whole range of rock and metal t-shirts on both sides of the Atlantic - and I've pulled together a few of my favourites.

Starting in the US, you can get a Led Zeppelin 1975 tour t-shirt with 20% off. It's down from $24.99 to $19.99 for Prime Day.

UK music fans can get their hands on this AC/DC Powerage Rock N' Roll Damnation t-shirt with 20% off. It's down from £19.99 to £15.99 and is available in a variety of colour variations.

Below, you'll find a selection of some of my favourite t-shirts from the Prime Day sales - all of them available for less. Best hurry and pick something up before the summer sales event comes to a close.

I'll get things started here with Amazon US before moving on to the UK t-shirt deals.

There's a decent 17% saving on Metallica's classic ...And Justice For All t-shirt with two different designs available. It's down from $30 to $24.99 right now.

The next t-shirt to catch my eye was another timeless classic, this time it's the famous Guns N' Roses Appetite For Destruction-era skull cross design. Amazon US have cut the price from $24.99 to $19.99 making it an essential buy.

There's 20% off the Rolling Stones Official Script Tongue t-shirt, with the price also down from $24.99 to $19.99, while the official Slipknot Gray Chapter t-shirt is also down from $24.99 to $19.99.

Back across to the UK and some of the highlights include The Clash London Calling t-shirt, down 20%, taking the price from £21 to £16.79.

There's also a 20% saving on the Green Day American Idiot t-shirt which you can order in a variety of colours. Get yours, down to £19.99 from £24.99.

My next pick goes to this Def Leppard Hysteria t-shirt - down from £21.99 to £17.59. One of my co-workers says he bought one similar when he saw the band in Edinburgh in 1988 - although this one will definitely be a bit brighter and in better condition.

Check out the range of t-shirts available from Amazon this Prime Day - and with the sales coming to an end shortly, I'd advise you to pick something up quickly to avoid disappointment.

But before you go, don't forget that Hot Topic are selling a wide range of t-shirts in the US - with up to 70% off in some cases.

At lunchtime today, I put aside my bow, removed my weather-stained Elven cloak, took off my fake pointy ears and chewed some Lembas while I perused the Prime Day Lego deals - and I found something that made me sit up faster than a Hobbit in a kitchen full of mushrooms.

That’s because I saw Amazon UK had reduced the price of the dark and brooding Lego Lord Of The Rings Barad-dûr model - taking a rusty cleaver to the price and cutting it from £399.99 down to £339.98 - a 15% saving.

I’ve seen this 5471-piece model fully built and it really is something a bit special.

This is one of the most striking Lego Lord Of The Rings sets around thanks to a huge amount of detail packed into its five floors of obsidian darkness.

Yes, the Eye Of Sauron is present and correct, but there’s so much more including a kitchen for the Orcs to cook fallen Riders Of Rohan, a prison to torture nasty Hobbistses, a forge to craft ghastly weapons (and a room to store them in) and a room complete with the all-seeing Palantír.

But that’s not all, there are swinging skeleton cages, a library, hidden secrets and a brick that’s used to open and close the hideous main gate.

Once the model is complete, it stands at an impressive 83cm/32.5 inches tall and it can be rotated to show front details. It even comes with batteries which activate the glowing Eye Of Sauron, which can be swivelled to strike fear into the hearts of the good races of Middle Earth should they get too close.

The kit also comes with 10 Lego mini figures including Frodo and Sam, Gollum, orcs, the Mouth Of Sauron, and of course, Sauron himself.

And if you're looking for more discounts, don't forget to check out all the Louder team's favourite Prime Day music deals.

It's day 2 of Amazon Prime Day and we've already seen a massive pile of Prime Day Lego deals building since the sale launched earlier this week. One of the standouts for me is a chunky 24% saving on the enchanting Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle model, with Amazon casting the Diffindo charm to cut the price down from £409.99 to £309.98. That's a huge £101.01 saving (the penny is important) on one of Lego's most popular Harry Potter sets.

There are loads of Lego deals to explore at Amazon for Prime Day, including Star Wars sets, mega Technics builds, Marvel, Mario Bros, Zelda, Lord of the Rings and more.

As you’d expect with a 6,020-piece kit, the Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle is jam-packed full of details including the Great Hall which comes with buildable ‘stained glass windows’, tables, benches, torches and house banners, while there’s also moving staircases, the Chamber Of Secrets with mini Basilisk, towers, classrooms, turrets and more. If you're a big HP, this is an absolute dream build.

There’s also room for Hagrid’s hut with a small Aragog the spider, buildable pumpkins, and the Whomping Willow tree with a model of the Weasley’s Flying Ford Anglia car. And as if all that wasn't enough, the box also contains five boats, and loads of Lego Harry Potter micro figures alongside Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw. It's the ultimate set.

We’re keeping our eyes on all the discounts over Amazon Prime Day and bringing them to you in our Prime Day music deals, Prime Day turntable deals and Prime Day vinyl deals pages so you won’t miss a thing.

Shop more of today's best Prime Day deals

• The best deals on Amazon UK
• Explore the early Prime Day deals
• 4 months of Amazon Music Unlimited FREE
• Big savings on band t-shirts
• 17% off Lego Millenium Falcon

• Best non-Amazon sales
• Argos: Up to 50% off Lego, turntables, more
• Currys: Shop epic deals on tech
• EMP: Save 20% off almost everything band-related!
• John Lewis: Save big on Beats and AirPods

As I was travelling through a galaxy not too far away in search of the best Prime Day Lego deals, my R2 unit alerted me to an excellent deal that'll be a winner no matter if your part of the Rebel Alliance or a fully paid-up, card-carrying member of the Galactic Empire, because Amazon has taken an ION cannon to the price of the Lego Star Wars TIE Fighter and X-Wing set and blasted 29% off the usual price - taking it down from £94.99 to £66.99.

This means you'll have two of the most famous starships in movie history to build, with the kit coming with a bunch of other neat touches.

If you had to choose between owning a Lego TIE Fighter and a Lego X-Wing, which would you go for? Actually, scrap that thought as there’s no decision to make here. With Lego kit number 75393, you get both!

You know what this means, of course – if you find a willing partner, you can conduct your own Death Star trench run over your coffee table - or you could take a more sober approach and display them with all your other Star Wars goodies!

Of course, you’ll have to put it all together first. With 1,063 pieces in total, you’ll have oodles of fun constructing these two famous ships and watching them slowly become the iconic machines we know and love.

Each of the ships has an opening cockpit, ready for you to put one of the five included Lego minifigures in. And each one also features spring-loaded shooters, enabling you to attack your enemy at will. The X-Wing even has adjustable wings, which will come in handy when you need to navigate those narrow spaces in your makeshift battle arena.

Speaking of those minifigures, the set comes with Rebel and TIE pilots (both of which have blaster pistols), along with Yesi Scala and Sig Greebling minifigures. Of course, no Star Wars scenario would be complete without a droid, and this set also comes with an L3-GO minifigure. The only thing missing is YOU – you’d best hurry, though, as these could sell out fast this Prime Day.

While this particular Star Wars Lego set isn't on sale in the US, you can still pick it up from Amazon priced at $107.75.

And if you're looking for more discounts, make sure to check out our pick of the best Prime Day music deals.

There were more than a few tears at Birmingham’s Villa Park last weekend when Black Sabbath brought the curtain down on their incredible career with a full day of epic performances from rock and metal royalty.

As someone who didn't make the concert, I've been looking to soothe my soul with some Prime Day music deals, trying to unearth some Black Sabbath merch bargains - and I found that Amazon had me covered.

There are loads of items in the sale in both the US and UK, ranging from t-shirts and tank tops to long-sleeved shirts and hoodies. And you can choose from a variety of designs, too, with everything from the band’s logo to iconic album artwork among the options.

You can check my finds below, so hopefully you'll see something that rocks your world.

Let's kick things off on Amazon US, who have 20% off the official Black Sabbath pullover hoodie featuring that famous purple logo - down from $49.99 to $39.99.

My next US pick goes to the Symptom Of The Universe t-shirt which shows the lads on the front and the band logo on white material, with the design presented in distressed maroon. It's also down 20%, from $24.99 to $19.99.

My third find on Amazon US is the Sabbath's American 1978 t-shirt which has a design inspired by the cover of the band's album of the same year, Never Say Die! It's also down from $24.99 to $19.99.

Across the Atlantic and back in Sabbath's UK homeland, there are more great deals to be found - including this retro Black Sabbath Sketch Band t-shirt, with Amazon knocking the price down 20% from £21.99 to £17.59. It's from the band's '78 world tour and you can choose the material cover to suit your mood, although the slate and black version is my favourite option.

This long-sleeve Vol. 4 t-shirt is my next pick and it's as classic as you'll get, with the design taken directly from the cover of the record sleeve. It's down from £25.99 to £20.79 for Prime Day.

For my final pick, I'm taking you away from Amazon and dropping you at the door of EMP, who have the "Purple Wavy Logo" lilac pin badge for just £7.99 - down 27%.

It's getting hot outside as summer finally begins to hit its stride, but myself and the Louder team aren't bothered by the nicer weather as we've been shuffling through the Prime Day music deals to bring you the best bargains around.

Away from Amazon, I noticed Hot Topic have a tasty metal merch sale on at the moment, with money off a whole heap of great rock and metal t-shirts.

I'm still buzzing after last weekend's epic Black Sabbath Back To The Beginning concert. And if your ears are still ringing, then why not rep the band with a classic purple logo tee for just $19.12 (was $23.90).

And if your still on a high from seeing artists from across the rock and metal world pay tribute to Ozzy, you can get yourself this Ozzy Dark Angel Portrait t-shirt for $19.92 - that's down from $24.90.

If you love having a large collection of hard rock and metal tees but you hate shopping for them, you’re in luck as I've picked out even more discounted t-shirts in the Hot Topic sale.

Let's kick off with this $7.20 Within Temptation t-shirt. It's cheaper than an ice cold fancy frappuccino right now, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your summer wardrobe with a box fresh tee or two.

One of our fave picks from the sale is this Sleep Token Even In Acardia Ten Crests shirt for $19 (was $24.95), exclusive to Hot Topic. It’s made from 100% cotton – the perfect material for battling sweaty summer armpits – and is available in all sizes except XS.

And talking of Download headliners Sleep Token, I can't get enough of this crisp Take Me Back To Eden t-shirt, now on sale for $21.52 (was $26.90) at Hot Topic. The design is a modern classic, and again the breathable 100% cotton material should keep those summer smells under control.

At this point it’s a metal uniform staple, along with this Metallica Black Album tee on sale for $17.52 (was $21.90). Speaking of Hetfield and Co, check out this beauty...

Looking for a pop of color? Try this vibrant blue Ghost Seven Inches of Satanic Panic cotton tee, now down to $19.92 (was $24.90) at Hot Topic. Three sizes have already sold out on this one, so move fast if you fancy it.

There’s no end date listed for the Hot Topics metal merch sale but with some t-shirts already going out of stock we’d advise shopping sooner rather than later to avoid missing out on some killer summer tees for less.

More of today’s best band tees sales:

• Amazon band tees sale – prices from $8
• Walmart bands tees sale – Def Leppard tees and more from $5
• Shop the whole Hot Topic tees sales – save up to 70%

Prog are proud to have teamed up with Marillion to produce this exclusive t-shirt celebrating the 30th anniversray of the band's Afraid Of Sunlight album.

You won't be able to buy this at any merch stand or shop, only through the Prog's online store, so get yours while you can. Buy yours here.

The latest issue of Prog Magazine celebrates the making of the album, of which guitarist Steve Rothery says, "If the mood’s right, then creativity can be effortless,” says Rothery. “For me, Sunlight is a perfect example of that. The title track and Great Escape are probably my all-time favourite Marillion songs. We were still optimistic about the future and how can you be despondent when you’ve made an album that’s this good? If the ideas had dried up and the creativity had gone then we would have wondered what the point was, but we were very far from that."

Afraid Of Sunlight was Marillion’s eighth studio album, yet it marked the end of their until-then fruitful relationship with EMI Records. Despite selling almost half a million copies, the label decided to drop the band. Of course history shows that Marillion remain one of the most popular, successful and inventive of bands while EMI was eventually sold to Universal Music following a disastrous period owned by the private equity group Terra Firma.

This year’s Memorial Day is a time when the biggest online retailers cut their prices on a whole range of products - and that includes big savings on Lego sets for the whole family.

The first Memorial Day Lego deal to turn my head was the awesome Lego Star Wars TIE Bomber which has been reduced from $64.99 to $51.99 over at Amazon. It’s a 625-piece kit and ideal for younger Lego fans as well as Star Wars veterans.

If Harry Potter is more to your tastes than adventures in a galaxy far, far away, then Walmart are offering the Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle set for $144.49 - that’s down from its list price of $169.99. The 2660-piece kit is packed with details, including the Astronomy Tower, Great Hall, the Chamber Of Secrets, Potions classroom and Chessboard Chamber.

For more great Memorial Day Lego deals, check out my selection below.

Memorial Day deals: Quick links

• Amazon: Up to 35% off music, tech & more
• Walmart: Massive early summer deals across the board
• Best Buy: Big savings on headphones, speakers & more
• Guitar Center: Up to 35% off instruments for Memorial Day
• Musician's Friend: Save up to 50% on gear for Memorial Day
• Positive Grid: Save big on the Spark smart amp and more

Memorial Day Lego deals

Read more

• Memorial Day music deals: Headphones, speakers & more
• Memorial Day CD & vinyl deals: Fill your ears for less
• Best gifts for music fans: Present ideas with a rock'n'roll twist
• Best gifts for metalheads: Heavy-duty gift ideas
• Keep records safe with the best vinyl record storage solutions
• Best Lego kits for adults: Band logos, guitars, Beatles and more

Memorial Day 2025 will officially take place on Monday, May 26, but some of the biggest online retailers in the US are already in on the action and have begun slashing prices across a wide range of vinyl box sets and CD collections.

My first pick goes to the recently released Rush 50 compilation, with Amazon reducing the price of both the 7LP edition and the 4CD box set, released to celebrate Rush's half century. The vinyl edition is down from $249.98 to $212.48, while the CD version is down 27% from $99.98, now $73.36. It’s crammed full of classics, fan favourites and there’s even a few live rarities thrown in for good measure.

Another discount to catch my eye was 25% off the remastered 2LP pressing of Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, with Amazon knocking the price down from $99.98 to $75.35.

There are loads more Memorial Day CD and vinyl deals to discover, and I've included some of my favourites below.

Memorial Day deals: Quick links

• Amazon: Up to 35% off music, tech & more
• Walmart: Massive early summer deals across the board
• Best Buy: Big savings on headphones, speakers & more
• Guitar Center: Up to 35% off instruments for Memorial Day
• Musician's Friend: Save up to 50% on gear for Memorial Day
• Positive Grid: Save big on the Spark smart amp and more

Memorial Day CD & vinyl deals

Read more

• Memorial Day music deals: Headphones, speakers & more
• Memorial Day Lego Deals: Star Wars kits and more
• Best Bluetooth turntables: Wireless record-playing wonders
• The best record players: Top turntables for every budget
• Best CD players: Rediscover the OG of digital music
• Best portable CD players: Powerful portable players

Employed To Serve singer Justine Jones leans back in her chair and flashes her widest smile. “Don’t be fooled, everything we’re doing now is totally out of necessity,” she says with a laugh. “No one wanted to book us or wanted to take a chance on us. It’s just that you’ve got to make your own opportunities or just sit and sulk. So we stopped sulking and made our own opportunities.”

We’ve just asked Justine if the DIY ethics that drive both her band and the underground metal empire she and her husband – ETS guitarist and co-vocalist Sammy Urwin – have built alongside it were born from a staunch punk rock spirit, or simply a necessity to survive in the music business.

“I think it’s true of anything, isn’t it?” she continues. “If you want anything to happen, then you’ve got to start moving and shaking. It’s the only way to do it.”

Hammer is sitting with Justine and Sammy in The Sovereigns, a pub in ETS’s hometown of Woking. The two of them are getting ready for the release of the band’s fifth album, Fallen Star, a record whose confidence is reflected by the heavyweight guests it features. Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos appears on recent single Atonement, Killswitch Engage’s Jesse Leach is on Whose Side Are You On?, and Svalbard’s Serena Cherry pops up on Last Laugh.

Dressed in baggy jeans and death metal long sleeves – no sign today of the elegant, flowing dresses Justine has started wearing in recent photoshoots – they could be a couple of regular greebos sipping Coke Zeros amid The Sovereigns’ afternoon drinkers.

In reality, they’re the driving force behind one of the country’s most respected underground metal outfits and the heart of a vibrant, growing cottage industry that aims to help a new generation of British metal bands. As well as keeping busy with ETS, they also run underground label Church Road Records, plus their newly founded publicity company, Since Always Press. At a time when so many musicians are struggling to exist, Justine and Sammy are carving out their own path.

“I like to manifest these things,” Justine jokes. “I’m aiming for millionaire status and headlining stadiums on this next album."

Onstage, Sammy and Justine are twin tornadoes, banging their heads and trading growled and screamed vocals. Offstage, they couldn’t be more different: friendly, enthusiastic, constantly upbeat. They met at school, and are still seemingly inseparable even after all this time.

Ahead of their wedding in 2020, they didn’t bother with separate stag and hen parties, instead putting on a gig for family and friends – including members of Conjurer and Palm Reader – that culminated in Justine bellowing out Mastodon’s Blood And Thunder. So joined at the hip are they that they even get up at 7.30am and go to the gym together.

“We’re just very chill people,” shrugs Sammy, when asked how they manage to live and work together. “I’m very lazy when it comes to arguing. We just nip it in the bud immediately, I can’t be bothered.”

The story of their band is equally inspiring. Formed by the pair in 2011, it’s been a long road to this point. Their 2015 debut album, Greyer Than You Remember, was a slab of viciously chaotic, mathy hardcore that firmly established them as a band to watch. Each subsequent record has added something new to their sound: hooks and choruses on 2017’s The Warmth Of A Dying Sun, groove metal on 2019’s Eternal Forward Motion (their first album for major label subsidiary Spinefarm Records) and, on 2021’s Conquering, a massive arena metal attitude.

In a scene that’s increasingly obsessed with viral hits and shiny new things, Employed To Serve are a reminder that slow and steady can still win the race. “I feel like Gojira are a good example of that,” says Justine. “They have slowly built over years and years to the point where they’re able to play at the Olympics. Not everyone has that viral moment, some people just have to go the long route and, you know, work it. Which is kind of what we’re hoping to do.”

The next step towards that tongue-in-cheek dream of being millionaire stadium-fillers comes with Fallen Star, an album that distils everything that they have ever done in their career, adding some extra melody and a sprinkle of star power via those guest spots.

Sammy says the more melodic moments come from his current obsession with prog, but Employed To Serve were also keen to bring back some of the tumultuous hardcore noise of early releases such as 2014’s Change Nothing Regret Everything EP. He adds that, lyrically, the album is about “facing negative problems head on and overcoming them, or turning them into positives”.

The latter is something that Justine and Sammy have first-hand experience of. Employed To Served were previously signed to UK label Holy Roar, where Justine also worked in a management capacity. In September 2020, two people made allegations of sexual abuse against Holy Roar founder, Alex Fitzpatrick. Justine recalls the feeling of reading the posts that made the original allegations as akin to “being punched in the stomach”.

She resigned from her role at the label almost immediately, as did every other employee, with several bands signed to Holy Roar also severing their connections to the label (Fitzpatrick denied the allegations, and no legal action was taken against him. Holy Roar was officially dissolved in 2021).

“It was, in all honesty, a super-traumatic event,” says Sammy. “I can only speak for myself, but I think it took both of us quite a while to get over it. You start to question your sense of judging someone’s character. It was a very horrible experience that it’s nice to have come out the other side of, for sure.”

Aside from the emotional impact of those events, Justine found herself without a job at the height of the pandemic – a situation made worse by the fact that Covid meant ETS couldn’t tour. The future looked bleak, but they weren’t about to give up.

In 2017, Sammy had set up Church Road Records as a small mail order company to distribute the hardcore and death metal albums he liked. Within 24 hours of Justine leaving Holy Roar, the pair decided to turn Church Road into a proper label.

They scrambled to release albums by Svalbard, Palm Reader and Respire, all of which were originally set to come out via Holy Roar. Artwork for the records had been printed, which meant Justine, Sammy and various friends and family members frantically putting Church Road’s stickers over the original label logo. It was a testing time, emotionally and physically, but it’s an inspirational story too – proof that it is possible for musicians to take their destinies into their own hands, and help other bands while they’re doing it.

“I just needed a job,” counters Justine. “I’d literally just lost everything, and it was during lockdown as well. I couldn’t exactly go job hunting. So, I was just like, ‘Right, let’s make this work.’”

More than four years on, Church Road has grown from those frantic beginnings to become a crucial part of the UK metal ecosystem. The label has released excellent EPs and albums by the likes of Heriot, Cruelty and Slow Crush, while 2025’s slate includes records from old-school metalcore crew Iron Form and blackened metallic hardcore merchants Grief Ritual, among others.

But Church Road has also been important to the survival of Employed To Serve themselves. Without it, there’s a chance they would have been unable to continue as they have. It’s something they’ve seen countless times in recent years – talented, promising bands struggling to balance careers in music with family and financial responsibilities.

We’re speaking just a few days before their friends and contemporaries Ithaca play their farewell headline show.

“A lot of it is we can’t afford to be in a band,” Ithaca singer Djamila Azzouz recently told Hammer. Justine and Sammy appreciate how fortunate they are to be in the situation they’re in.

“If the whole Church Road situation hadn’t come up, I would have had to start thinking that I need to have a career outside of the band by now,” Sammy nods.

“Neither of us would begrudge any band that decided they just couldn’t make it work anymore,” Justine says. “When you are that mid-sized band, on the cusp of being able to make it almost a full-time vocation, but then hitting that point where if your whole band decides they just want to go for the family route and not do bands anymore because it’s time-consuming. That could have been us, for sure, but the business side has meant we’re sort of the last ones standing from the scene when we formed.”

Both laugh when asked what a regular day involves when it comes to Church Road business. They reel off the things running a label involves: customer emails, mail orders, data entry, sorting out press for bands, the ongoing “Tetris challenge” of storing boxes of vinyl, plus lots and lots of coffee.

But Church Road is now at a point where it’s self-sustaining. It’s a lot of hard work, but, as both point out, it’s better than working for someone else.

“I have never done a business degree,” admits Justine. “I’m very much learning as I go along, and have been fumbling my way through for these last five years. It would be nice having someone else worry about paying me and paying others. But equally, I know that I wouldn’t have the amount of freedom I’m afforded now.”

Given everything they’ve got going on, you’d imagine the last thing they want to do is take on even more responsibility. But they recently launched their aforementioned new company, Since Always Press, to focus on promoting and raising the profile of bands they are passionate about throughout the metal, rock and punk scene. The likes of UK groove metal band Harbinger and prog metallers Calyces are two of their earliest clients.

“I wanted to work with more bands [on Church Road] but we couldn’t,” says Justine. “We have a set amount of budget. Once a month we have a release, we can’t do more than one release a month. Because there’s no upfront costs on Since Always, we get to work with more bands we love.”

Employed To Serve may never get to headline stadiums, and the chances of them becoming millionaires are, to be brutally honest, pretty slim. But for Justine and Sammy, that doesn’t seem to matter.

Even after more than a decade of slogging it out on the UK metal circuit, they’re still the same pair of passionate, metal-obsessed kids they where when they started the band. The only difference is that they’re now in a position where they’re able to give something back, to help nurture the scene that has nurtured them. Like they say, the couple that stays together slays together.

Fallen Star is out now via Spinefarm. Employed To Serve play Mystic and 2000 Trees festivals this summer. Order an official, exclusive Employed To Serve t-shirt design via the Metal Hammer online store, where you can also pick up a T-shirt/mag bundle featuring Employed To Serve on the cover of Metal Hammer issue 399.

A new sex toy in the image of Ghost frontman Papa V Perpetua sold out in a matter of minutes after going on sale this week.

Part of the band's new "Mama’s Day Collection" (Mother's Day in North America is celebrated on the second Sunday in May) of memorabilia, the so-called "Ghildo" was available in a limited run of 666.

Measuring 7-inches in length and 2-inches in girth, the purple silicone toy comes in a fetching velvet drawstring pouch and features Papa V Perpetua's face at what can best be described as the business end.

Retailing for $129 (about £100), the item was sold exclusively through Rockabilia. But according to Metalsucks, they sold out in minutes.

Ghost are no strangers to unusual merchandise. They previously sold the Phallos Mortuus box set, a bible-bound package containing a sizeable Papa Emeritus dildo and a bronze butt plug.

Papa V Perpetua was unveiled as Tobias Forge's latest persona ahead of the band releasing their sixth album Skeletá this year.

The Swedish outfot are currently out on the road in support of the highly-rated record.

Ghost remaining 2025 world tour dates

Europe:

May 04: Milan Unipol Forum, Italy
May 07: Berlin Uber Arena, Germany
May 08: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome, Netherlands
May 10: Lodz Atlas Arena, Poland
May 11: Prague O2 Arena, Czech Republic
May 13: Paris Accor Arena, France
May 14: Oberhausen Rudolph Weber Arena, Germany
May 15: Hannover ZAG Arena, Germany
May 17: Copenhagen Royal Arena, Denmark
May 20: Tampere Nokia Arena, Finland
May 22: Linköping Saab Arena, Sweden
May 23: Sandviken Göransson Arena, Sweden
May 24: Oslo Spektrum, Norway

USA:

Jul 09: Baltimore CFG Bank Arena, MD
Jul 11: Atlanta State Farm Arena, GA
Jul 12: Tampa Amalie Arena, FL
Jul 13: Miami Kaseya Center, FL
Jul 15: Raleigh PNC Arena, NC
Jul 17: Cleveland Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, OH
Jul 18: Pittsburgh PPG Paints Arena, PA
Jul 19: Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center, PA
Jul 21: Boston TD Garden, MA
Jul 22: New York Madison Square Garden, NY
Jul 24: Detroit Little Caesars Arena, MI
Jul 25: Louisville KFC Yum! Center, KY
Jul 26: Nashville Bridgestone Arena, TN
Jul 28: Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena, MI
Jul 29: Milwaukee Fiserv Forum, WI
Jul 30: St Louis Enterprise Center, MO
Aug 01: Rosemont Allstate Arena, IL
Aug 02: Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center, MN
Aug 03: Omaha CHI Health Center, NE
Aug 05: Kansas City T-Mobile Center, MO
Aug 07: Denver Ball Arena, CO
Aug 09: Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena, NV
Aug 10: San Diego Viejas Arena, CA
Aug 11: Phoenix Footprint Center, AZ
Aug 14: Austin Moody Center ATX, TX
Aug 15: Fort Worth Dickies Arena, TX
Aug 16: Houston Toyota Center, TX

Mexico:

Sep 24: Mexico City Palacio De Los Deportes

If there’s one day that every sci-fi fan has circled in their calendars, it’s not Boonta Eve or the Wookiee-favourite Life Day - no, it’s May the 4th, officially known as Star Wars Day! Today, fans across the galaxy (and right here on Earth) will don their Jedi robes and stormtrooper helmets, celebrating all things Star Wars with enthusiasm that can be felt across the stars. Sites such as Amazon and Logo are ready to join the intergalactic party, rolling out epic deals on everything from Star Wars-themed Lego sets to an array of out-of-this-world memorabilia.

Now, with an entire galaxy packed with Star Wars treasures, you might feel like you need to make a few hyper jumps just to track them all down. But fear not, my fellow Jedi! I’m here to guide you on this thrilling quest through the cosmos of collectables. 

Below, I’ve curated a list of my top picks for Star Wars merch that’s sure to get your heart racing faster than a Podracer at full speed. With these stellar selections, finding a fantastic deal this Star Wars Day will be easier than winning a game of holochess against Chewie! 

Okay, let's start with Lego. With so many cut-price sets, there's no time like the present to start building your collection. Lego is celebrating Star Wars Day with some special discounts and even some brand-new sets to build. Lego Insiders members can get access right now, and it’s easy and totally free to get set up. You can check out all the deals over at the Lego site.

Notable discounts include £84 off the Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser, £42 off the X-Wing Starfighter, and the Mos Espa Podrace Diorama is down to only £59.49.

Moving over to Amazon, I've picked out the incredible Black Series Sabine Wren Premium Electronic Helmet. Sabine is a fan favourite who made her debut in the animated Star Wars Rebels, but has recently made the jump to live action, showing up in the Ahsoka mini-series. A trademark of the character is her very cool Mandalorian helmet, and now you can snag one for yourself at a heavily discounted price. Over at Amazon, you can pick one up for only $73.99, down from $99.99.

Sticking with fan favourites, next up I have to mention this Vintage Collection Cad Bane action figure, donning his look from The Book of Boba Fett series. Down from $18.99 to only $10.99, this is a must-have collectable for anyone who is a fan of this gunslinging, galactic bounty hunter.

Of course, as you'd expect, there is much more on offer, so I highly recommend heading over to Amazon and Lego to see what else is available. Not sure where to start? You might also enjoy our guide to the best Lego sets for adults, which includes everything from band logos and guitars to Beatles sets and our favourite Star Wars models.

Classic Rock Magazine has hooked up with Luke Spiller, frontman of The Struts, to celebrate the release of his debut solo album Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine.

The album is out now, and so is our exclusive, limited edition bundle of the new issue of Classic Rock, which contains a copy of the magazine with a bespoke cover, an autographed lyric sheet – hand-signed by Luke himself – and a Luke Spiller t-shirt you won't find anywhere else.

Get your Luke Spiller magazine, t-shirt & signed lyric sheet

Inside the magazine, we talk to Luke Spiller about his solo album, which classic flavours, velvet-lined pop and old European flair with a modern Hollywood love story.

Also in this issue:

Fleetwood Mac
With Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham on board, their 1975 self-titled White Album was the first record by what became the band’s most beloved and successful line-up.

Those Damn Crows
Religion, psychedelics and a near-death experience were all inspirations for the Welsh band’s new album.

The Classic Rock Interview: Pete Townshend
With The Who he wrote some of the great songs from the first wave of pop, then went on to conquer the rock world

Lollapalooza ’92
In an exclusive book extract, we look at how down-the-bill sudden stars Pearl Jam’s performances on the 1992 tour sparked crowd frenzies verging on riots.

Mike Campbell
The guitarist talks about his years as Tom Petty’s right-hand man in the Heartbreakers, early-days self-doubt, playing with Dylan and Fleetwood Mac, and two love stories.

The Stories Behind The Songs: Joe Walsh
A career crossroads, snow-capped mountains and a runaway lawnmower all played a part in making Rocky Mountain Way.

Q&A: Don Airey
The Deep Purple keyboard player, go-to session guy and solo artist on his new album, touring, Purple, Blackmore.

Ever Meet Lemmy? Yngwie Malmsteen
Yes he has. And Blackmore, Angus, Metallica, May, Mogg…The Swedish shredder recalls some of his close encounters

Reviews
New albums from Ghost, Stereophonics, Hawkwind, Billy Idol, H.E.A.T, Luke Spiller, Robin Trower, Melvins, Neil Young, Samantha Fish, Machine Head and more. Reissues from Pink Floyd, Wings, Small Faces, Helloween, David Bowie, Angel, Camel, Godfathers, Dwarves, Raven and more. DVDs, films and books on Queen, Kirk Hammett, Genesis, The Jam, Slade, The Clash and more. Live reviews of The Temperance Movement, Avantasia, The Wildhearts, Guitar Wolf, Wytch Pycknyck and more.

Lives
We preview tours by Daryl Hall, Rosalie Cunningham and Toby Lee. Plus gig listings – who’s playing where and when.

The Soundtrack Of My Life: Samantha Fish
The guitarist and singer picks her records, artists and gigs of lasting significance.

• Get your Luke Spiller magazine, t-shirt & signed lyric sheet

On July 18, Russian deathcore monsters Slaughter To Prevail will release their brand new studio album Grizzly. To celebrate, we've teamed up with the band to offer an exclusive vinyl variant that you won't find anywhere else - a seaweed green and bone-coloured number completed by a lovely big splatter of red. It looks excellent, and you can pre-order it right now from the official Metal Hammer store. There's even a pop-up cardboard bear trap in the inner sleeve. What more could you want?

Speaking about the album while promoting its lead single Russian Grizzly In America, fearsome frontman Alex Terrible said: “I think this is the best album we have ever written. We put so much effort into it. We spent a lot of time on every detail and really poured our souls into the songs.

“In the past, we were always rushing to finish albums and just releasing whatever we had. This time, we took our time, worked carefully on each track, and made sure everything was exactly how we wanted it. Hopefully it was all worth it.”

Terrible made headlines earlier in the week when it emerged he had actually adopted two adorably cute bear cubs.

"Long story short. My neighbor @kirillpotapov ( literally 10 mins away from me) saved 2 babies bears Kodi and Harley," he explained on Instagram.

"He helps animals for long time and I want to help him. From this moment I will visit this babies every time Im at home in Russia and help them financially. And I want to ask you guys for help as well. I will not just ask you for money and shit abut I will drop some merch with this lil cutie pies and you will buy it. All money will go to them. Stay brutal."

In honour of the fast-rising Welsh rockers' brand new studio album God Shaped Hole, which was released last week and earned a commendable 8/10 review from Classic Rock magazine, we've teamed up with Those Damn Crows for this world exclusive bundle that you won't find anywhere else.

The bundle features four limited-edition gifts: a hand-signed lyric sheet for recent single Dreaming, a framable art print, an exclusive t-shirt you can't get on merch stalls and a special Classic Rock magazine variant with the Those Damn Crows boys on the cover.

Order your Those Damn Crows x Classic Rock bundle here

Writing for Classic Rock, John Aizlewood described God Shaped Hole as "a distillation of all that has gone before in Those Damn Crows’ world; the unashamedly American undertow to Dreaming and Turn It Around suggest they now feel ready to cast their net into international waters. It’s difficult to imagine there’ll be too much resistance. They’re on the right track."

That Swedish progressive rock institution The Flower Kings are about to release their seventeenth studio album LOVE early next month. It’s “an album of fully realised ambition,” according to the Prog Magazine review and Prog has teamed up with the band to offer fans this world-exclusive bundle, featuring really cool Flower Kings stuff you can't get anywhere else.

Alongside a special variant version of the latest version of Prog boasting a limited edition The Flower Kings front cover, the bundle also comes with a lyric sheet for How Can You Leave Us Now!?, signed by the entire band, plus an exclusive LOVE t-shirt unavailable in shops or on merch stands. Numbers are limited and the only place you can get the bundle is from the Prog online store.

“I think it’s finding the right balance with being commercial, because we want to sell albums, we want to go out and play to bigger audiences all the time, but I wouldn’t suffer my artistic vision to do it,” Stolt tells Prog in our feature on LOVE in the new issue. “I think the formula is unpredictable in The Flower Kings.”

Hawkwind grace the cover of the new issue of Prog, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of their fantasy epic Warrior On The Edge Of Time and as well as The Flower Kings, the new issue also features new interviews with Van Der Graaf Generator founder Judge Smith, Big Big Train, Solstice, IQ, Mostly Autumn, Dim Gray, Gary Kemp, Everon, Antimatter and loads more. You can read all about the new issue here.

Get your exclusive limited edition The Flower Kings bundle here.

UK proggers Solstice are clearly riding the crest of a pretty big wave at the moment, sweeping the 2024 Readers’ Poll on the back of some great live shows. They’ve just released their eighth studio album, Clann, which is already proving popular with fans. To celebrate, Prog has teamed up with the band to offer fans this world-exclusive bundle, featuring really cool Solstice stuff you can't get anywhere else.

Alongside a special variant version of the latest version of Prog boasting a limited edition Solstice front cover, the bundle also comes with a lyric sheet for Twin Peaks, signed by guitarist and songwriter Andy Glass, plus an exclusive Clann t-shirt unavailable in shops or on merch stands. Numbers are limited and the only place you can get the bundle is from the Prog online store.

As a special treat, Andy has included a golden ticket in amongst the limited bundles and one lucky purchaser will get a copy of Clann signed by the whole band!

“Our Prog Readers’ Poll success isn’t about us being ‘the best ‘, but far more a reflection of an incredibly motivated audience who’ve been enjoying the music. It’s actually a ‘win’ for everyone who’s helped and supported us along the way,” says Glass in our feature about Clann in the new issue.

Hawkwind grace the cover of the new issue of Prog, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of their fantasy epic Warrior On The Edge Of Time and as well as Solstice, the new issue also features new interviews with Van Der Graaf Generator founder Judge Smith, Big Big Train, IQ, The Flower Kings, Mostly Autumn, Dim Gray, Gary Kemp, Everon, Antimatter and loads more. You can read all about the new issue here.

Get your exclusive limited edition Solstice bundle here.

UK prog rockers IQ have just released their twelfth studio album Dominion, to the delight of their legions of fans, many of whom are proclaiming the new album one of the band’s very best and Prog has teamed up with the band to offer fans this world exclusive limited edition bundle, featuring really cool IQ stuff you can't get anywhere else.

Alongside a special variant version of the latest version of Prog boasting a limited edition IQ front cover, the bundle also comes with a lyric sheet for Never Land, signed by vocalist and lyricist Peter Nicholls, plus an exclusive Dominion t-shirt unavailable in shops or on merch stands. Numbers are limited and the only place you can get the bundle is from the Prog online store.

“You know, we’ve been good friends for nearly 50 years,” Nicholls tells Prog in our feature on Dominion in the new issue. “I’ve been in the band longer than I haven’t been in the band. Right now there's a lot to be thankful for. I really want to make sure that these are really strong years. Put it this way, IQ is in no danger of fizzling out.”

Hawkwind grace the cover of the new issue of Prog, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of their fantasy epic Warrior On The Edge Of Time and as well as Big Big Train, the new issue also features new interviews with Van Der Graaf Generator founder Judge Smith, Solstice, IQ, The Flower Kings, Mostly Autumn, Dim Gray, Gary Kemp, Everon, Antimatter and loads more. You can read all about the new issue here.

Get your IQ bundle here.

One of the UK’s leading prog bands, Big Big Train, reissued their third album, Bard, for the very first time last month. Unavailable for many years, Bard was recorded in 2002 by a line-up of Martin Read (vocals), Tony Müller (keyboards and vocals), Phil Hogg (drums), Ian Cooper (keyboards), Andy Poole (bass) and Greg Spawton (guitar, keyboards), the new version of the album has been completely remixed by the band's longstanding engineer Rob Aubrey.

To celebrate, Prog has teamed up with the band to offer fans this world-exclusive limited edition bundle, featuring really cool Big Big Train stuff you can't get anywhere else.

Alongside a special variant version of the latest version of Prog boasting a limited edition Big Big Train front cover, the bundle also comes with a lyric sheet for The Last English King, signed by Greg Spawton, Andy Poole and Ian Cooper, plus an exclusive Bard t-shirt unavailable in shops or on merch stands. Numbers are limited and the only place you can get the bundle is from the Prog online store.

“We didn't know whether we were going to carry on, so there was melancholy around this possibly being the last one,” Poole reveals in our interview with the Bard line-up in the new issue of Prog.

“It's a strange thing to look back on, because these were such difficult, miserable times, but with happy days by the end of it,” adds Spawton.

Hawkwind grace the cover of the new issue of Prog, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of their fantasy epic Warrior On The Edge Of Time and as well as Big Big Train, the new issue also features new interviews with Van Der Graaf Generator founder Judge Smith, Solstice, IQ, The Flower Kings, Mostly Autumn, Dim Gray, Gary Kemp, Everon, Antimatter and loads more. You can read all about the new issue here.

Get your Big Big Train bundle here.

Patti Smith has announced a fourth memoir, Bread of Angels, to be published on November 4.

The publication date is described as “especially meaningful” to Smith, as it is both the birthday of her late partner Robert Mapplethorpe, and the anniversary of her late husband Fred 'Sonic Smith’s death.

The synopsis for Bread of Angels reads: “The most intimate of Smith’s memoirs, Bread of Angels takes us through her teenage years when the first glimmers of art and romance take hold. Arthur Rimbaud and Bob Dylan emerge as creative heroes and role models as Smith starts to write poetry, then lyrics, merging both into the iconic recordings and songs such as Horses and Easter, Dancing Barefoot and Because the Night.

“As Smith suffers profound losses, grief and gratitude are braided through years of caring for her children, rebuilding her life, and, finally, writing again - the one constant on a path driven by artistic freedom and the power of the imagination to transform the mundane into the beautiful, the commonplace into the magical, and pain into hope. In the final pages, we meet Patti Smith on the road again, the vagabond who travels to commune with herself, who lives to write and writes to live.”

Alexis Kirschbaum, head of Bloomsbury Trade, the book's UK publisher, says, "Patti Smith is a living legend. While her lyrics and music have inspired generations of listeners, her books have made her one of the most cherished and influential writers of the last 50 years."

Smith's previous memoirs were titled Kids, M Train, and Year Of The Monkey. She describes her forthcoming book as "a bright and dark dance of life."

Bruce Springsteen, Michael Stipe, Johnny Depp, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O were among the stars who gathered in New York's iconic Carnegie Hall last month to pay tribute to Smith's music and poetry.

People Have The Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith was staged on March 26, with 100% of net proceeds being donated to support youth music and writing education programs.

Other artists performing on the night included Kim Gordon, Sharon Von Etten, Ben Harper, Courtney Barnett, The Kills' Alison Mosshart and The National's Matt Berninger, with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea playing in the house band, alongside The Rolling Stones' drummer Steve Jordan, and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Today's addition to our things-we-didn't-know-we-needed-until-right-now list is an old-fashioned reel-to-reel tape recorder.

Despite prerecorded tapes not being sold since about 1976, audio manufacturer Revox has continued to make reel-to-reel machines, and they've hooked up with Alice Cooper to produce a branded version of their iconic B77 MK III recorder.

The machine, which retails for €27,000 (£23,123 / $29,565), comes with a master tape of Cooper's 2018 EP The Sound of A, which featured the title track alongside four classic live cuts, The Black Widow, Public Animal # 9, Is It My Body and Cold Ethyl.

If that wasn't enough to justify the €12,000 price hike above an unbranded B77 MK III recorder, each of the limited edition of 25 units is hand-signed and numbered by Cooper. Purchasers will also be able to attend meet and greet events with the man himself in Munich and New York later this year.

Revox have also launched a limited edition of 50 Alice Cooper-branded T77 turntables priced at €8950 (£7655 / $9800).

"I know sound quality and that's why I'm so excited about the Alice Cooper limited editions from Revox," says Cooper, in an introductory video. "This really is the ultimate way to enjoy a true analogue music experience.

"These sound great. This audio sounds as good as it did in the studio. These real master tapes are strictly limited edition and signed by me. Revox also designed some limited edition tape machines and turntables which are also signed by me.

"These machines will perform incredibly well over many decades, just like I have and of course they're incredibly good-looking, just like me.

"I know sound quality and that's why I'm so excited about the Alice Cooper limited editions from Revox. This really is the ultimate way to enjoy a true analogue music experience."

The limited edition Alice Cooper Revox reel-to-reel recorder and turntable are available to order now.

The latest leg of Alice Cooper's Too Close For Comfort tour kicks off in Huntsville, AL, on May 2. Full dates below.

Alice Cooper: Too Close For Comfort 2025 tour

May 02: Huntsville VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, AL
May 03: Macon Atrium Health Amphitheater, GA
May 05: Montgomery Performing Arts Center, AL
May 06: Savannah Civic Center: Johnny Mercer Theater, GA
May 07: North Charleston Performing Arts Center SC
May 09: Columbus Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival 2025, OH
May 10: Saginaw Dow Event Center, MI
May 13: Moline Vibrant Arena at The MARK, IL
May 14: Milwaukee Miller High Life Theatre, WI
May 15: Muncie Ball State University: Emens Auditorium, IN
May 17: Erie Erie Insurance Arena, PA
May 18: Ocean City Boardwalk Rock 2025, MD|
May 20: Wilkes-Barre Mohegan Arena, PA
May 22: Utica Stanley Performing Arts Center, NY
May 23: Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena, CT
May 24: Atlantic City Ocean Casino Resort, NJ

Jul 05: Hannover Stadium, Germany *
Jul 08: Bologna Sequoie Music Park, Italy
Jul 11: Athens Rockwave Festival 2025, Greece
Jul 13: Mogilovo Midalidare Rock in the Wine Valley, Bulgaria
Jul 19: Spalt Strandbad Enderndorf, Germany
Jul 22: Cardiff Utilita Arena, UK
Jul 23: Edinburgh Playhouse, UK
Jul 25: London The O2, UK ∞
Jul 26: Mönchengladbach SparkassenPark, Germany
Jul 28: Amsterdam AFAS Live, Netherlands
Jul 30: Schaffhausen Stars in Town 2025, Switzerland

Aug 15: Philadelphia Citizens Bank Park, PA
Aug 19: Salem Civic Center, VA
Aug 20: Knoxville The Tennessee Theatre, TN
Aug 21: Chattanooga Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, TN
Aug 23: Chesterfield The Factory, MO
Aug 26: Waukee Vibrant Music Hall, IA
Aug 27: Omaha Orpheum Theater, NE
Aug 30: Memphis Elvis Presley’s Memphis: Graceland Soundstage, TN

* with Scorpions and Judas Priest
∞ co-headline show with Judas Priest

Tickets are on sale now.