The American guitarist, songwriter and singer Rick Derringer passed away last May 26 at the age of 77 in Florida. His caretaker Tony Wilson was the first one to share the news on Facebook and then the death was confirmed by Derringer's wife Jenda to TMZ. She noted that he died peacefully in his sleep after being taken off life support following a medical episode. The late musician started his musical career in 1965, first achieving fame with his band The McCoys. But later on he became a successful solo artist with hits like "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and also is remembered for his extensive work with the brothers Edgar and Johnny Winter. He played lead and rhythm guitar in their bands, including in the songs "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride". He was an influence to many famous Rock stars and had many friends, so many musicians shared special messages on their social media after his death. Rock stars' reactions to Rick Derringer's death at the age of 77 Ringo Starr "God bless Rick Derringer. It was great playing with him in the All Starrs. I send peace and love to his family. Ringo ✌️❤️☮️" Steve Stevens "Rick Derringer was not just an awesome guitarist but one hell of a singer producer. He also complemented Johnny Winter perfectly on their live album." Joe Bonamassa "Rest in Peace my friend. It was an honor to know you, work with you and call you a friend. @rickderringer". “Weird Al” Yankovic "I’m very sad to say that my friend, rock guitar legend Rick Derringer, has passed. Rick produced my first 6 albums and played guitar on my earliest recordings, including the solo on “Eat It.” He had an enormous impact on my life, and will be missed greatly. RIP". John Corabi "So sad to hear about the passing of Rick Derringer. What a brilliant guitarist/producer and songwriter. I saw him quite a few times, and was blown away at what he did with his guitar. R.I.P. Rick". Nikki Sixx "Loved Rick Derringers band DERRINGER and so many of his songs. RIP Guitar hero".The post Rock stars’ reactions to Rick Derringer’s death at the age of 77 appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

Last December in Brazil Nicko McBrain played his final show with Iron Maiden. He was part of the band since 1982 but in 2023 suffered a minor stroke that left the right side of his body paralyzed but he was able to recover about 70% of the movements and improve more to be able to tour again with the Heavy Metal band. But during 2024 the musician revealed there were some songs he couldn’t play anymore the way he used to, so he decided to leave the band. Their new drummer Simon Dawson just played his first show with the band. It was last May 27 in Budapest, Hungary and was the first concert of their 50th anniversary tour. The setlist is quite interesting featuring many songs from the first two albums with Paul Di'Anno and other famous hits of their career. See the setlist and videos of the first Iron Maiden show with new drummer Murders in the Rue Morgue (First performance since 2005) Wrathchild (First performance since 2017) Killers (First performance since 1999) Phantom of the Opera (First performance since 2014) The Number of the Beast The Clairvoyant (First performance since 2013) Powerslave (First performance since 2017) 2 Minutes to Midnight (First performance since 2019) Rime of the Ancient Mariner (First performance since 2009) Run to the Hills Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (First performance since 2014) The Trooper Hallowed Be Thy Name Iron Maiden Aces High Fear of the Dark Wasted Years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdLTtGH7-Tc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka0OceTGjcM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlS9btqelL4The post Iron Maiden plays first show with new drummer Simon Dawson appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

Guns N' Roses recently fired their longtime drummer Frank Ferrer who was part of the group since 2005. The band announced that Isaac Carpenter was the chosen one to replace him and in a video posted on his Youtube channel, the bassist Duff McKagan praised the musician who had previously worked with him in his band Loaded. Duff McKagan praises the new Guns N' Roses drummer Isaac Carpenter "I have known Isaac since he was in his first band called Loudermilk. They were in high school. They're from Washington state, so not far from Seattle. And I'd heard about the band. They got signed to American Records — Def Jam, basically, Rick Rubin's label. And they made a record. And they were, like, 18 years old. I think I met Isaac when he was 19. And I loved his band Loudermilk. A bunch of years — a few years later, like nine years later, I needed a drummer for Loaded and Isaac's name came up." "He was coming through somewhere I was at, and he came and we played together. And [I told him], 'I have this tour. Would you wanna do it?' And he was in. Then he and I made 'The Taking' record. He and I wrote a lot of the songs for that record together in his garage. And I wrote a lot of my book, believe it or not…" "He had this couch in his garage that was really old and it would hurt my back. And it's where I found I could write my darker sections of my book better 'cause I was in physical pain. So I'd actually come over to his house just to use his garage and that couch to write. So I've known him for a long time, I guess. Now that I think about it — 25 years. And it's great to have him in the band. It's fucking awesome." He continued: "I'll tell you what Isaac brings to the band. No commentary on Frank, 'cause Frank's a lovely guy. Isaac has got this ability, though, to swing and groove that only a few drummers have. Steven (Adler) had it as well, Steven Adler, and Matt (Sorum) is a great, solid drummer with amazing fills — and Matt's amazing. They're both amazing drummers. And Isaac somehow blends both of those two guys and adds his own thing. So he adds a new sort of excitement to the songs. And the groove and swing of the songs right now with Isaac is super impressive and super fun," Duff McKagan said (Transcribed by Blabbermouth). Since the classic Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler was fired in 1990, the group had many other drummers like Matt Sorum (1990 to 1997), Josh Freese (1997 to 2000), Bryan Mantia (2000 to 2006) and Frank Ferrer (2006 – 2025). Who is Isaac Carpenter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmLMOF7Bfdw Born in Tri-Cities, Washington back in 1979, Carpenter started his musical career in 1995. His first band was Loudermilk, which was initially formed as a Guns N’ Roses cover band, with the name .22s and Tulips. But then the group started to write their own songs and had the chance to release three studio albums from 1998 to 2006. During his career, Carpenter also recorded with other less known groups and artists like Gosling (Previously known as Loudermilk), The Exies, Marion Raven, Black Lab, Tyga, Evan Taubenfeld, Reve Theory and for the past 11 years he was a member of the group Awolnation. But another Guns N’ Roses connection that Carpenter has is that he was also a member of Duff McKagan’s band Loaded from 2009 to 2011. He played the drums on the band’s 2011 album “The Taking”, which is their most recent one.The post Duff McKagan praises new Guns N’ Roses drummer Isaac Carpenter appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

The most influential Thrash Metal band of all time, Metallica was formed by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield back in 1981. Alongside guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassists such as Cliff Burton, Jason Newsted, and Rob Trujillo, they have sold millions of records worldwide and inspired countless bands throughout their career. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett have certainly created some of the greatest guitar riffs in the history of Heavy Metal, but the Metallica frontman believes there is one riff that might be the heaviest in the universe. The song James Hetfield said could have the heaviest riff of all time The song that James Hetfield once said has probably the heaviest riff in the universe is Black Sabbath's "Symptom of The Universe", released on their praised 1975 album "Sabotage". "A slightly fucking heavy - if not the heaviest - riff in the universe. That one sums up Black Sabbath for me," he told Vic Garbrini in an interview with Guitar World magazine. When that album was released Hetfield was only a 12 year-old kid but already was a huge fan of the band. He said a few times that if he needs to choose a band as his favorite of all time, his choice would be Black Sabbath. A full circle moment for him happened in 2006 when accompanied by his bandmate Lars Ulrich, he inducted the British Metal band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During his speech, the musician recalled the impact of hearing their groundbreaking self-titled debut album for the first time. “Black Sabbath is mammoth riffs with menacing lyrics that made me oh so happy. That was gonna be my speech. Picture a nine-year-old boy. Quiet, well-behaved on the outside. But on the inside boiling and dying for a life to burst open with some sort of stimulation. The discovery of music was what was to burst it wide open.” James Hetfield continued: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qDYa2aIBxw&pp=ygUXc3ltcHRvbSBvZiB0aGUgdW5pdmVyc2U%3D “But not just any music. This was more than just music. A powerful, loud, heavy sound that moved his soul. You see, this timid nine-year-old constantly raided his roommate-slash-older brother’s record collection. And going against his older brother’s wishes, played those off-limit records on the forbidden record player. Out of all the records he could have worn out, there was no other choice. The very moment he saw their earliest album cover, he knew they were going to offer him a different kind of ride. He was drawn to them like a magnet to metal.” “That’s pretty lame, yes. OK, I’ll try again. More like a shy boy to his own loud voice. Those monstrous riffs lived inside him and spoke the feelings he could never put into words. Sending chills of inspiration through him, from those gloomy lyrics and outlaw chords and all. They helped crack the shell he was stuck in. Also, scaring his mom and sister was an extra bonus. Now, as the former nine-year-old speaks to you here, as an adult musician.” “I know those two words really don’t go together. I realize that without their defining sound, as my friend Lars has said, there would be no Metallica, especially with one James Hetfield. Never have I known a more timeless and influential band. They have spread their wonderful disease through generations of musicians.” He continued: “They are always listed as an influence by heavy bands to this day. They are loved and highly respected as the fathers of heavy music. It truly is a dream come true and an extreme honor for me and the nine-year-old still inside of me to induct into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame such a significant group of musicians. And in the words of our fearless leader Ozzy Osbourne, ‘Let’s go fucking crazy!'” James Hetfield said. During that ceremony James and Lars were joined by their bandmates Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo to play “Hole In The Sky” and “Iron Man”. Three years later, in 2009, it was Metallica's turn to be inducted. It was the 25th anniversary of the Hall and many artists performed classic songs as a tribute. Metallica had the chance to play with Ozzy the Sabbath classics "Iron Man" and "Paranoid". Tony Iommi is his favorite guitarist in terms of riffs and rhythm All the original members of Black Sabbath were fundamental for the band's sound but without the incredible guitar riffs created by Tony Iommi the band would have never been the same. That's why Hetfield praised the musician many times over the decades and even said he is his favorite guitar player in terms of riffs and rhythm. “As far as being a riff and rhythm guy, my favorite guitarist is Tony Iommi, no doubt about that. He seemed like one of those quiet geniuses. At one time he was the frontman of the band and Ozzy was to one side. The riff was more important than the vocals. It was all in minor, it has that feel. He can go from the heaviest doom riff into a happy mode and it would still sound heavy. We can’t do happy, but Tony can pull it off. My favorite track is ‘Into The Void’,” James Hetfield told Classic Rock. Besides "Symptom of the Universe", James Hetfield already praised two other Black Sabbath songs. The first one is the title track of their debut album released in 1970, which is the name of the band. The intro with the rain, the thunder and the doomy Tony Iommi guitar riff "scared the shit out of me. It's beyond heavy," Hetfield told Rolling Stone back in 2004. The Metallica frontman also praised "Into The Void", which was featured on their third album "Master of Reality" (1971).The post The song James Hetfield said could have the heaviest riff of all time appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.