News archive
December 2025
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157 articles
- December 31
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- Myles Kennedy looks back on the time he refused to audition for Slash and Velvet Revolver: “I knew that I wasn’t mentally prepared to jump into something of that magnitude”
- “It might be like The Exorcist, which was touted by the Catholic Church because it showed on-screen what they’ve been talking about”: Ice Nine Kills have finished writing their horror film The Slashin’ Of The Christ and want to cast some familiar faces
- New issue of Prog is on sale now! The essential end-of-year issue!
- December 30
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- "What kind of joke are we all living in now?": Jack White blasts US congressman who shared laughably bad AI-generated Jack White video
- “We’re always going to be responsible for making some of the most fun music that bassists and guitarists and drummers will ever want to play”: Dave Mustaine doesn’t know what he’ll do with himself after Megadeth call it quits
- December 29
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- “It is a professor in my pocket who only wants to do what I ask it”: Slipknot’s Clown defends AI, breaking rank from other high-profile metal musicians
- "I went into a coma!" Jack Black's spontaneous take on Nickelback's biggest hit single is every bit as entertaining as you're already imagining
- "I interrupted the passage of this chalice to the great one!" The night that The Police's Stewart Copeland "mortally embarrassed" himself in front of a Beatles legend
- Oasis sold more tickets in 2025 than Beyonce
- "This one song is worth more than most entire albums. Consider yourself lucky": Vinnie Vincent defends $200 price tag on new CD single
- December 28
- December 27
- December 26
- December 24
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- “I’m fascinated to know what people think!” Brian May gifts Queen fans never-before-heard "work in progress" version of Christmas song Not For Sale (Polar Bear)
- After 50 years, Pink Floyd have released an official music video for one of their greatest and best-loved songs
- "Musicians, comedians, doctors, students and pensioners have all become targets." Bob Vylan call out the British government as police confirm the band will face no criminal charges following investigation of their Glastonbury festival set
- "It's remarkable that you can have a culture that's shunted into the west side of England that has nothing to do with the English at all." Robert Plant on how the mystique of Wales and the magic of J.R.R. Tolkien influenced Led Zeppelin
- December 23
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- Haters, look away now: Sleep Token’s Even In Arcadia has been certified Gold in the United Kingdom
- Slipknot tore Europe a new one during their tour this summer – this pro-shot footage from a Spanish festival proves it
- IQ to release new live performance of Frequency in January
- Watch fiery pro-shot footage of Gojira playing Olympic anthem Ah! Ça Ira! live at Bloodstock festival this summer
- December 22
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- "Refused is dead. Long live Refused." Watch one of the greatest hardcore bands ever to do it close their final farewell show with game-changing anthem New Noise
- "This was the whole infrastructure behind VOLA!" Danish/Swedish quartet launch crowdfunder after losing all their gear in storage facility fire
- Singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Rea dead at 74
- "Be it Eddie Van Halen, Mick Mars or anyone like that, I have such respect for the person that I'm stepping in for." Motley Crue guitarist John 5 reveals the secret to stepping into the shoes of some of the world's most respected guitarists
- Ghost's Mary On A Cross has officially just gone platinum in the UK
- The Orb announce live performance of Metallic Spheres with Saucerful Of Secrets musicians in August
- "He is no longer with the band": Nazareth part ways with Carl Sentance, announce new singer
- December 21
- December 20
- December 19
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- Vote for the best metal album of 2025
- Vote in the 2025 Prog Magazine Readers' Poll
- Jon Anderson shares video for Time Has Come as he announces new reissues
- "Writing a line here and there doesn't make someone a songwriter, and singing my material doesn't make it theirs": Shred king Yngwie Malmsteen slams all the singers he's ever worked with
- December 18
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- "The song is rarely asked out for a dance." There's a Peter Gabriel deep cut on the soundtrack to the new Timothée Chalamet A24 movie, and he couldn't be happier about it
- “The hundreds of new followers we have over the last few days are most welcome, but I’m not entirely sure they are all genuine”: Simon Cowell’s new boyband December 10 could be in legal trouble after getting confused for a Scottish metal group
- "We are here to announce that we have come together one last time to resolve our differences": Jane's Addiction are talking again after last year's acrimonious break-up
- December 17
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- Notorious cop killer celebrated in song by multi-million-selling punk band dies aged 89
- “That was pretty sad”: Watch Avengers megastar Chris Hemsworth’s shambolic attempt to play drums with Parkway Drive earlier this year
- "A picture-postcard Christmas, with morbid edges..." New animated video released for Greg Lake's perennial seasonal favourite I Believe In Father Christmas
- "The audience for heavy music is absolutely growing. It feels like expansion, not nostalgia" Sleep Token's manager has been speaking about the band's extraordinary success in 2025, and what it means for rock and metal as a whole moving forwards
- December 16
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- George Harrison's Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) has a new video - directed by Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard
- Los Angeles judge dismisses sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed against Marilyn Manson by former assistant
- "You disgusting, vile, egomaniac loser." Jack White calls out Donald Trump for his bizarre and insensitive take on the killing of Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer
- “They were sprawled out in their birthday suits, bottles all over the place... it was a scene!”: Rob Halford remembers the chaotic time Ozzy Osbourne visited Judas Priest in the studio
- "He was funny, he was smart, he was a mensch": Spinal Tap and Paul McCartney pay tribute to murdered film director Rob Reiner
- December 15
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- "The fuse has been lit and the desire is there." Trent Reznor is prioritizing writing a new Nine Inch Nails album over any other projects
- "Owning a balaclava, having our song on your computer, or liking one of our posts could lead to prison time": Pussy Riot declared extremist organisation in Russia
- "I have been living with mental health problems which have led to addiction issues that I have concealed for a long time." Biffy Clyro's James Johnston is taking a step back from the band to address issues that have led to "significant problems"
- "25,000 of them didn't have a clue who I was. 15,000 of them thought I was a poser." Yungblud looks back on his life-changing "David and Goliath" moment at Black Sabbath's final show
- "A gift to our fans to thank them for all their support..." Big Big Train singer Alberto Bravin shares festive video for Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner and wife Michele confirmed dead in apparent homicide
- December 14
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- President aren’t an industry plant band, says the lead singer of President: “People find it hard to accept that something can just explode organically”
- "He was saying that it was overwhelming for him. He was very vulnerable." Ghost mainman Tobias Forge reveals the surprising conversation he had with a member of Black Sabbath at the metal legends' final show
- "I'm genuinely amazed and blown away": Steven Wilson's The Overview voted Best Album of 2025 by Classic Rock magazine
- “An artist I have admired for such a long time”: Now that they’ve crossed everyone from Bloodywood to Five Finger Death Punch off the bucket list, Babymetal want to make a song with Amy Lee from Evanescence
- December 13
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- Because nothing screams punk rock louder than millionaire rock stars performing for hedge fund bros, watch Eddie Vedder, Anthony Kiedis, Brandi Carlile, Slash and friends play Stooges, Motorhead, Dead Boys covers at billionaire's private corporate gig
- “We’ll see”: We asked Steve Harris if Iron Maiden will do their own blockbuster retirement show like Black Sabbath, and he didn’t rule it out
- December 12
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- Watch The Pretty Reckless revisit Taylor Momsen's childhood by performing the song she sang 25 years ago in How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- "I wanted people to leave the concert saying, I expected them to be good, but I had no idea they could or would deliver like this." Jimmy Page looks back on Led Zeppelin's historic 2007 reunion
- "Her story, unfiltered and unapologetic." One of rock's most iconic, inspirational and provocative figures to share her life story in a "raw, complicated" new documentary film
- "I’ve always dreamed about it." Turnstile vocalist Brendan Yates reveals his bucket list side-quest ambition
- Evanescence made a surprise appearance at The Game Awards last night, playing recent single Afterlife. Watch a video of their fiery performance and listen to a brand new remix of the song featuring Gunship
- December 11
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- "Mick Jagger liked the mix but his management was just like, 'No, not even negotiable'." Superstar DJ Fatboy Slim finally releases fabled Rolling Stones mash-up
- Asia share live video of Heat Of The Moment as they announce new live album
- Rap superstars Public Enemy and Ice Cube to support Guns N' Roses on 2026 US tour
- "For a kid like me, achieving this, it’s a dream.” The Who's Roger Daltrey receives knighthood from Prince William at Windsor Castle
- "This is definitely the best we've ever been." Ghost's Skeletá has been named the album of the year by Metal Hammer - read Tobias Forge's reaction and see our top 50 albums of 2025
- Iron Maiden, Ghost, Babymetal and more star in Metal Hammer’s blockbuster End Of Year issue, which comes with an exclusive Iron Maiden pin badge, Halestorm sticker and a 2026 heavy metal calendar
- "Christmas came early!" Queen's Brian May gifts best friend Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath a unique bespoke present, two years in the making
- December 10
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- "I was wrong for using the words I used. I humbly apologise": Gene Simmons says sorry for controversial comments about the late Ace Frehley
- Pelagic Records have announced they are bringing together some of metal's most beautiful and boundless bands for the 2026 edition of Pelagic Fest
- Big Big Train announce new Woodcut – The Making And The Meaning book
- "This is worshipping Satan!" Country music superstar horrifies shocked fans with "demon ritual" at Las Vegas shows, amused metalheads suggest further listening for next steps into hell
- "He knew. He was ready" Sharon Osbourne has revealed the final words that her husband Ozzy said to her before he passed away
- "To start with, we didn’t have an idea between us. There wasn’t a song, there wasn’t a tune." Pink Floyd's Nick Mason says that making Wish You Were Here was "like hitting a brick wall"
- Robert Plant announces US tour with Saving Grace
- December 9
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- "We knew there was still a chapter left to write": Triumph announce first tour in more than three decades
- "It's not happening." Liam Gallagher shoots down rumours that Oasis will return for Knebworth mega-gigs next year, says the band "are not doing anything in 2026"
- King Crimson affiliates BEAT announce one-off London show for June
- "A diverse, daring and deeply emotional lineup!" Soen and The Ocean announced as headliners for next year's Be Prog! My Friend
- "When Anthony and I were kids we were up to so much wild stuff." Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea on his "feral" teenage adventures with Anthony Kiedis, and his top tip for sneaking into shows without paying
- Sleep Token’s Caramel has been named the best song of 2025 by The New York Times
- "What a strange time we live in, when an imposter can write a tune, or have a toaster write it for him": People are pretending to be Alan Parsons and he's not happy about it
- December 8
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- Toto, Christopher Cross and The Romantics announce mammoth North American tour
- “Stranger Things is a phenomenon, right? But it’s ending. I hope I reach the point where, when the time comes, we step away gracefully”: Robb Flynn wants Machine Head’s retirement to be like a hit Netflix finale
- "He said, Would you shave my butt?" Oscar-winning English actress recalls her horror when one of America's most famous musicians requested intimate 'manscaping' before Saturday Night Live appearance
- “I had this look of shock on my face. The whole audience got quiet: ‘Did somebody die?!’”: This is what it’s like finding out you’re Grammy-nominated halfway through your own concert, as explained by Halestorm
- "Brian May of Queen was in tears watching the performance...I’d shed a few tears myself." The emotional reaction one rock legend had to one of Ozzy Osbourne's final performances - and why it was so emotional for Ozzy himself
- "I wanted to make it a truly unforgettable, unmissable week, a run of shows to dream about." The Cure's Robert Smith lines up Wolf Alice, Garbage, Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine and more for Teenage Cancer Trust shows
- December 7
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- Former Free and Faces bassist Tetsu Yamauchi dead at 79
- "Robert Plant talking about juice running down his leg...there shouldn't be a double-standard. Women in this business think about it too!" Halestorm's Lzzy Hale opens up on the "empowering" song that helped launch their career
- Violet Grohl channels Queens Of The Stone Age on debut single, receives love and praise from offspring of other superstar rockers
- Slipknot-endorsed Mapuche metal champions Mawiza have recorded a live session in Gojira’s studio – and you really need to watch it
- December 6
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- Metallica fans banned for life after "incredibly stupid" speaker tower stunt at show in Australia
- Behaviour of one former Megadeth member means there will be no reunions on upcoming farewell tour
- "I joined a band because I hated the f****** beach." Shirley Manson doubles down after beach ball rant at Garbage show in Australia
- "She was like, ‘This is what happens when you die young’. I thought it was this cool gesture, but it wasn’t a fun gift." Courtney Love gave this indie frontman a lock of Kurt Cobain's hair after he punctured a kidney on broken glass at an awards ceremony
- Swallow The Sun's best-selling official biography to be translated into English
- Alanis Morissette announces UK and Ireland 2026 outdoor tour with Skunk Anansie
- Aerosmith removed from Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney World and will be replaced by the Muppets
- Sleep Token have released the official colouring book you never knew you needed
- December 5
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- "I listened to track one and I was like, Ooh, that was nasty!" Hollywood superstar Adam Sandler reveals the iconic '90s rock album that he can't stop listening to
- Avenged Sevenfold have just released a brand new song and it's packing riffs, autotune and all kinds of weirdness - listen to Magic now
- Neal Morse Band share video for Fully Alive, their first new music for five years
- One of the greatest 'lost' grunge supergroups of the '90s are returning in 2026 with new music and a worldwide tour
- Pink Floyd to open Wish You Were Here pop-up stores across Europe and in LA in December
- "I saw him mosh to a death metal band. I saw what changed my perspective on music" For one of deathcore's pioneering bands, it was a show in Montreal back in 1998 that helped them to kickstart the genre
- Tangerine Dream to release 50 Years Of Phaedra: At The Barbican in January
- "It's full of light and love and guitars that rip": The Sheepdogs announce new album Keep Out Of The Storm
- Birmingham Airport CEO says name will not be changed in memory of Ozzy Osbourne, despite petition nearing 80,000 signatures
- The ultimate review of 2025: The best albums, the biggest events, and the megastars who rocked our world - only in the new issue of Classic Rock
- "The goal is to make it feel really nostalgic, like people are back in time." Reunited rock legends promise fans "awesome" experience at upcoming Las Vegas residency
- December 4
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- "There's so much material at this point": Guns N' Roses release two new singles but there's still no news about an album
- Long-delayed Slipknot project Look Outside Your Window will finally drop in 2026, Shawn “Clown” Crahan promises
- “The Alamo incident, bat-biting, dove head-biting, snorting ants”: Ozzy Osbourne was at his “wildest” during early days of solo career, says Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler
- "We have our own airport and our own postage stamp!" Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine look back at 60 wild years of Scorpions
- December 3
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- Soul guitar legend and Blues Brother Steve Cropper dead at 84
- Previously unheard Scott Weiland song released to mark 10th anniversary of singer's death
- "I really wanted to do it justice": The Struts singer Luke Spiller releases mournful version of Slade Christmas classic
- "I liked her masculinity. I liked that she wasn’t embarrassed to have that side of her as a woman, and she was also very sexy" Hayley Williams has revealed the first female figure she found herself looking up to when Paramore started touring
- "Don't miss this chance to hang out with us one final time" One of hardcore's most influential and forward-thinking bands are about to play their last ever show, and you're going to be able to livestream every minute of the chaos
- "I can't listen to any more of this, this is a f***ing disgrace" An AI song posing as a new Architects release was published under the band's name on streaming services, and it sets a worrying precedent for where things may be heading
- "We shall finally meet again. See you around Europe...” Gazpacho to play first UK show in four years as they announce UK and European tour
- "He would always say, ‘I don’t care if they are laughing at me or with me, as long as they’re laughing'" When it came to the longevity of his career, Ozzy Osbourne had a typically carefree approach to things, according to son Jack
- December 2
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- Phish announce nine-date residency at Las Vegas Sphere
- Uriah Heep, The Almighty and Doro confirmed for Maid Of Stone festival
- Corey Taylor’s son Griffin remembers the first time he saw his dad in his Slipknot mask: “Who the **** is this guy?!”
- 28 of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals you can still get right now... if you’re quick
- Fairport Convention announce Spring tour dates for 2026
- Aerosmith and Yungblud tease collaboration with country star Lainey Wilson
- December 1
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- Roger Waters mocked with official Ozzy Osbourne "Another Prick In The Wall" t-shirt
- Improve human-cyborg relations this Cyber Monday with up to 44% off your very own Lego Star Wars C-3PO
- Disney+'s Cyber Monday deal of up to 61% off is only live for a few more hours - as a big fan of Marvel's animated shows, I've got five reasons right here you should consider buying it
- Hot Topic's Cyber Monday Funko Pop! Vinyl sale includes some of my favourite figures ever
- Great quality sound, no-fuss set-up and low cost - we're loving the Technics SL-1500C Direct Drive Turntable this Cyber Monday
- Hot stuff! Pick up the most underrated Rolling Stones album with 16% off this Cyber Monday
- Is your home metal enough? Kit yourself out with EMP's Cyber Weekend sale, offering tonnes of metal homeware with great savings
- I’ve been left Comfortably Numb thanks to this 19% David Gilmour vinyl box set discount for Cyber Monday
- The pocket-sized JBL GO 4 speaker is so good, I bought two - save 20% before Cyber Monday ends
- You only have a few hours left to cash in on Paramount+'s excellent 50% off Cyber Monday deal - here are five great music documentaries on the platform that make it worth picking up
- A gigantic, inflatable whale flew over the crowd during metal heavyweights Gojira’s concert in Paris last night – watch video here
- Last chance to dance! Walmart are offering savings on these brilliant albums this Cyber Monday
- Have yourself a heavy metal Xmas and shop Etsy's Cyber Weekend sale - there's even an epic Iron Maiden wood burner up for grabs with 20% off
- You still have time to take advantage of Disney+'s excellent Cyber Monday deal of up to 61% off - here are five superb music documentaries on the platform that I think make it worth your money
- “Collaborating with K. Flay, Poppy and Courtney LaPlante made me want to create a world where we could share stages together”: Evanescence announce extensive world tour for 2026, with support from Spiritbox, Poppy and others
- The Sony Walkman has evolved into an MP3 player - and it's giving me strong '80s vibes. Save up to 36% for Cyber Monday
- Who says Lego is for kids? Not me! Here are the coolest designed Lego sets I've found with huge savings this Cyber Weekend
- “We love you forever”: Watch Limp Bizkit pay tribute to Sam Rivers at their first show following the late bassist’s death
- Wrestling fans might want to check out Hot Topic's Cyber Monday WWE deals - they include one of the coolest shirt collabs I've ever seen
- Opeth's new animated video for §3 offers a visual interpretation of The Last Will And Testament's narrative
