David Bowie 1/3 David Bowie Track Revived By Stranger Things Daivid Bowie’s “Heroes,” heard during the end credits during the finale of Stranger Things in the late December, rises exponentially on streaming services. After New Year’s Eve — when the song was used in the Netflix show’s final episode — it garnered over 1.1 million streams in three days. It had been earning about 94,000 digital streams daily. The series has helped revive the ’80’s culture and music throughout its run, especially with the song choices. Clint Lowery 1/5 Sevendust Guitarist Clint Lowery Will Skip Some European Tour Dates “Unfortunately, I’m not gonna be able to make the front half of this tour,” says Lowery. “First off, family commitments. I made a promise to my kids years ago I would not be gone a certain amount of time anymore. Secondly, I had a couple of health issues last year. I have a couple of tests coming up just to confirm everything’s cool.” Tim Tournier will fill-in for Lowery. Tyler Bates 1/5 Marilyn Manson’s Touring Guitarist Bails Tyler Bates takes to social media to announce his departure from Marilyn Manson’s touring band. In addition to his fretwork, Bates co-produced and co-wrote Manson’s 2015 album “The Pale Emperor,” 2017’s “Heaven Upside Down” and the singer’s latest effort, 2024’s “One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1.” Bates is stepping away from touring but not from Manson. “I’m stepping away, but I will be actively supporting the upcoming release of ‘Chapter Two’, my fourth album with Manson, which I believe is our finest work together.” Bates, a film composer, met Manson through his work on the Showtime series “Californication”. Ronnie Radke Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee w/ his wife Brittney Furlan 1/5 Falling In Reverse’s Frontman Files Restraining Order Ronnie Radke files a temporary restraining order against actress/social media influencer Brittany Furlan for alleged harassment after she rehashed a 2025 catfish scandal on social media. The musician requests that the court orders her to stay at least 100 yards away from him. The petition is subsequently denied. “The claims being made about Ms. Furlan are not accurate,” says Furlan’s rep. “”Our legal counsel issued multiple cease-and-desist notices in May after what we considered to be a pattern of harassment, bullying and false public statements about her. Those notices were acknowledged but the behavior continued. Ms. Furlan will respond through the court process and hopes the matter can be resolved peacefully.” In a series of posts Furlan shares screenshots of an Instagram account that messaged her various times and left “fucked up” comments on her posts as well as posts to Saraya and Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe). Furlan is married to Lee and Saraya is Radke’s ex-girlfriend. Furlan says she utilized Instagram’s “forgot password” feature to log into the account to see the phone number and discovered that the last two digits matched one of Radke’s phone numbers she had saved in her phone. Tommy Lee calls Radke and “idiot.” Max Georgiev 1/5 Ronnie Radke Explains Why Guitarist Was Fired While the above is playing out, Radke takes time to explain, during a livestream, why he fired ex-guitarist Max Georgiev last year. Radke shares a post on his Instagram that alleges Georgiev admitted to sleeping with a minor before joining Falling In Reverse. The guitarist responds by sharing a statement denying the allegations posting “I have never done anything illegal with a minor.” Extreme 1/5 Extreme Announce Work On Seventh Album Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt shares a photo of him in a recording studio and he includes the message: “DAY 1 2026 EX7REME.” The upcoming effort will be the follow-up to “Six,” which was released in 2023. Haken 1/5 Haken Loses Two Members The U.K. progressive band part ways with guitarist Charlie Griffiths and bassist Conner Green. On their social media post the band writes: “It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the departure of Charlie Griffiths and Conner Green from Haken. We are tremendously grateful for the time we’ve spent together, creating music and touring the world, achieving things we thought weren’t possible.” Pat Smear 1/7 Foo Fighter Guitarist To Miss Shows Foo Fighters announce that guitarist Pat Smear will be forced to sit out a few of the band’s upcoming shows after suffering a bizarre accident in his garden that resulted in multiple broken bones in Smear’s foot. Jason Falkner (Beck/St. Vincent) will be filling in during Smear’s absence. Jenny Lewis 1/8 Jenny Lewis Marries Her Dog The singer/actress celebrates her 50th birthday by throwing a mock wedding for her and her beloved dog, Bobby Rhubarb. “I don’t have any kids, but this dog opened me up in so many ways — being responsible for a soul and caring for something outside of yourself,” Lewis writes on social media. Neil Young 1/8 Neil Young Condemns ICE and Trump In the wake of an ICE officer killing Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier in the week, followed by protests across the nation, Neil Young weighs in on his website. “It’s ICE cold here in America,” Young writes. “There was no ICE before Trump. No soldiers in the streets before Trump. Every move he makes is to build instability so he can stay in power…” Dave Matthews Renee Good Memorial Poster 1/9 Dave Matthews Slams ICE Dave Matthews also slams the Trump administration and ICE over the Renee Good shooting. “I don’t like these monsters that are running the show right now.” “This administration, these people who are trying to tell us not to believe what we see. It is so horrific,” offers Matthews. “I don’t understand how you can claim that (Good) was ramming their cars, or that she was attacking them. There’s nothing to suggest that. From most angles, near and far, it looks like she (Good) was trying to get away, and he (the ICE agent) shot her three times in the head, murdered in cold blood.” “It’s mind-boggling and it’s deeply upsetting. To me and to so many people, and we can’t just let it slide.” Depeche Mode: 1/9 “Depeche Mode: M” Streams On Netflix Directed by Fernando Friar, the film follows the group during three shows at Mexico City’s Foro Sol in September 2023. According to a band statement: “Depeche Mode: M” serves as “a window into the band’s timeless global influence, and a powerful tribute to the unbreakable connection between music, tradition and the human spirit.” Bob Weir 1/10 Bob Weir’s Death Revealed The family of Bob Weir announce his death at age 78. The singer, songwriter and guitarist was a co-founder (with Jerry Garcia) of the Grateful Dead. “He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could.” wrote the family. “Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.” Jay Weinberg 1/11 Jay Weinberg Leaves Suicidal Tendencies The former Slipknot drummer announces his departure from Suicidal Tendencies after an almost two-year run with the California crossover Thrash/Hardcore Punk band. “I’d like to thank @suicidaltendencies for bringing me onboard for an incredible year and a half of shows,” posts Weinberg, “What an absolute blast.” Ken Susi 1/12 All That Remains Lands New Guitarist Former As I Lay Dying guitarist Ken Susi officially joins All That Remains as the replacement for Jason Richardson. “My connection to this band (All That Remains) goes back to the late ’90s at underground shows in Western Massachusetts,” says Susi. “Coming back together now truly feels full circle.” Tom Morello Kristi Noem 1/12 Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello Rages In an Instagram post, Morello pictured with a message on his guitar, accuses the Trump Administration of using an alleged Nazi slogan on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s podium during a January 8th press conference. The presser was held in New York City — the day after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis — to address the Administration’s Immigration Enforcement. footage. Photos from the conference show the slogan “One of ours, all of yours,” which is very similar to a Nazi slogan, appears on Noem’s podium. There is no historical evidence that the phrase itself was used by Nazi forces. Still, the quote reflects the Nazi policy of collective punishment, which is considered a war crime. Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl 1/14 Foo Fighters Play Charity Concert Foo Fighters play a special benefit concert at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on frontman Dave Grohl’s 57th birthday. “This concert… is a statement that it will take all of us working together to end homelessness in our city,” states Rowan Vansleve, president of Hope The Mission. Dave Mustaine 1/15 Dave Mustaine Says He’s Not A “Right-Winger” In a New York Times interview the Megadeth frontman says he answers to a higher power. “I’m a Christian, and I answer to a different set of angels,” notes Mustaine. “I obey the law, but no, I’m not a right-winger.” The right-winger perception comes from past comments and support expressed for the first Donald Trump presidential election. Brian May 1/15 Queen’s Brian May Says ‘No To Glastonbury In an interview with the Daily Mail May says Queen will never perform at the Glastonbury festival due to the band’s political differences with the organizers. May, a long-time animal rights advocate says, ‘They like killing badgers, and they think it’s for sport and that’s something I cannot support. Unless that changes, I won’t do it.” Fat Mike 1/16 NOFX Documentary In Post-Production Fat Mike, a founding member of NOFX, announces that a feature-length documentary, “40 Years Of Fuckin’ Up,” about the legendary Punk band is currently in post-production. “40 Years Of Fuckin’ Up” was directed by James Buddy Day. NOFX Pictured: Eric Melvin is on the right. Fat Mike is in the middle with blue hair. 1/16 NOFX’s Fat Mike In Legal Dispute During roundtable at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas, celebrating the opening of an NOFX exhibit, drummer Erik Sandien tells the audience that frontman Fat Mike is being sued by longtime guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Eric Melvin over alleged financial malfeasance. “Mike is a complicated person, but he is not a thief,” states Sandien. Bob Weir 1/17 Bob Weir Remembered The late Grateful Dead guitarist/vocalist is remembered in San Francisco with a special tribute to his life and career at Civic Center Plaza, The free public gathering remembers Weir, whose “music, spirit and humanity shaped generation,” reads a statement from organizers. Weir passed away on 1/10 at age 78. Nikki Sixx 1/17 Mötley Crüe Celebrates Its 45th Anniversary Bassist Nikki Sixx takes to his Facebook page to write, “As time rolls on, you forget the little things — the small, throwaway moments that years later turn out to be the birth of something that changes you… and a lot of other people’s lives.” “Back (in 1981), I showed a 17-year-old (Mötley Crüe drummer) Tommy Lee a pile of songs that would later end up on our debut album,” relays Sixx. “It’s where we first met (Mötley Crüe guitarist) Mick Mars. It’s where we dreamed, jammed, argued, laughed, and tried to turn noise, attitude, and fun into something you could actually explain.” Megadeth 1/17 Megadeth’s “Let There Be Shred” Event Megadeth play a two-song acoustic set at “Let There Be Shred,” a one-day fan event held a in La Vergne (near Nashville). The show also includes an electric set featuring songs from the band’s self-titled seventeenth studio album before its release. Billie Joe Armstrong 1/17 Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong Dedicates “Holiday” During the band’s show at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, Armstong tells the audience that the song “Holiday” is anti-fascist. “This song is anti-war. We stand up for our brothers and sisters in Minnesota.” “Holiday” is from the band’s 2005 “American Idiot” album. Heather Taylor / Tommy Lee 1/20 Heather Taylor Seeks Vindication In Tommy Lee Case Heather Taylor refiles her once dropped sexual assault claims against Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, relying on a new California law that opens a new two-year lookback window allowing previously time-barred civil claims against individual defendants accused of sexual assault on an adult. “If anyone thought my prior dismissal was a retreat, they vastly miscalculated my stamina,” says Taylor. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley 1/21 KISS Members To Enter Songwriters Hall Of Fame The Songwriters Hall of Fame announces the class of 2026. The list includes Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, who shared a dedication and work ethic. With Stanley, Simmons said, “One and one is three.” The induction ceremony is June 11th. The Eagles 1/22 Eagles “Greatest Hits” Is #1 All-Time The RIAA announces the Eagles first compilation, “Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)” is the first album in history to achieve quadruple diamond status. The certification signifies that the album officially sold more than 40 million copies (including streaming credits) making it the bestselling album of all time. Slipknot 1/22 Slipknot Drops Cybersquatting Suit Slipknot say they have voluntarily dismissed a cybersquatting lawsuit filed against the domain name slipknot.com. The band will continue to use their existing domain name slipknot1.com. In its lawsuit, the band argued that Slipknot Online Services, Ltd., apparently located in the Cayman Islands and not affiliated with the band, used the domain to profit from the band’s name- including the sale of unauthorized merchandise.   Megadeth Behind The Mask 1/22 Megadeth Go “Behind The Mask” “Megadeth: Behind The Mask” debuts on screens worldwide — a day before the release of the band’s self-titled seventeenth and final studio album. “This cinema event is a celebration of the riffs, the intensity and the uncompromising spirit that have defined Megadeth’s legacy,” explained Megadeth founder/frontman Dave Mustaine. “I can’t wait to share it with thousands of my closest friends around the world. I have so much gratitude for everyone who helped bring this film to life, especially you, the fans! Now let’s fire this up… and pass the popcorn!” Megadeth was formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by ex-Metallica guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine. Frampton Comes Alive! 1/22 Frampton Comes Alive!” Returns Marking the 50th anniversary of “Frampton Comes Alive!“  a Vinylphyle edition of the album is released. One of the top-selling live albums of all time, it has moved nearly 20 million copies sold worldwide. “This album was born onstage, and hearing it presented this way on vinyl feels like bringing that energy back to life for longtime fans and new listeners alike,” says Frampton. “Frampton Comes Alive!” was originally released 1/6/76. “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott 1/22 Dimebash 2026 Charlie Benante (Anthrax/Pantera), Chris Jericho (Fozzy), Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour/Hellyeah) and Carla Harvey (ex-Butcher Babies) are among the musicians who take part in the “Dimebash” concert in L.A. featuring an all-star jam tribute to “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, the late co-founder and guitarist of Pantera and Damageplan. Megadeth 1/23 Megadeth’s Final Album Released “Megadeth,” the band’s seventeenth album, was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw. It is Megadeth’s only album with guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and their first since 2009’s “Endgame” to feature bassist James Lomenzo.   Ghost 1/23 Ghost Cancels Concerts Due To Impending Storm Ghost cancels three shows on the recently launched North American leg of the “Skeletour” tour due to the state of emergency issued regarding a significant winter storm approaching North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Xavier Ware  1/23 Suicidal Tendencies Have A New Drummer Following the departure of drummer Jay Weinberg earlier in the month, Suicidal Tendencies announce they have recruited Xavier Ware who has been drumming since he was two years old. 1/23 Trump Says He’ll Pass On The Super Bowl The President says he will not attend the Super Bowl in the San Francisco area on February 8th. The world traveling gadabout tells the New York Post that the event is “just too far away.” Dozing Donnie adds that he’s also unhappy about the musical performers, which include noted Trump critics Green Day (pre-game event) and Bad Bunny (halftime show). He says, “he’s anti-them.” The Funeral Portrait 1/24 The Funeral Portrait Go To #1 The Funeral Portrait‘s current single, “Dark Thoughts,” is at the top of the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.  The track, which features Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria, is off “Greetings From Suffocate City,” The Funeral Portrait’s second studio album. The Eagles 1/24 The Eagles Fly Without Walsh The Eagles perform without Joe Walsh (pictured second from the left) at Sphere in Las Vegas. The guitarist, down with the flu, misses his first show since joining The Eagles in 1975. “We could either cancel the whole thing or we could man up and do the show,” Don Henley tells the audience. Walsh’s parts are predominately handled by Deacon Frey and Vince Gill. David Draiman 1/26 Disturbed Frontman Responds To Apology Following Rapper Kanye West’s a full-page apology in the Wall Street Journal for his frequent antisemitic behavior in recent years, Disturbed’s David Draiman, a longtime Jewish advocate, thanked West for the public apology to the Jewish community, he was not sure that it would ever be enough to cover the damage done. Neil Young 1/26 Neil Young Offers Catalog Free To Greenland Residents Young’s complete catalog, a vast archive of live concerts, studio outtakes, and concert films, is available to Greenland residents through a free one-year subscription to Neil Young Archives. The offer, which Greenland residents can renew next year, is in response to President Donald Trump’s threats against the nation. Marilyn Manson 1/26 Manson Suit Revived A California judge revives a sexual assault lawsuit filed Ashley Walters, an ex-Marilyn Manson assistant. The judge reverses his own dismissal of the case after concluding that a newly enacted state law applies. “I looked at this closely,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steve Cochran says during a hearing. “I do think the statute revives the claim. You’re (heading toward trial) all over again.” Brady Ebert 1/27 Ex-Turnstile Guitarist Criticizes Band Brady Ebert. who was in Turnstile from 2010-2022 calls the band out after they share an “abolish ICE” post on social media. Ebert claims that Turnstile were “just pandering to their audience.” Nationwide protests and unrest sparked by recent fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis sparked the “abolish ICE” mantra.” Bruce Springsteen 1/28 Springsteen Releases Anti-ICE Song Just days after the killing of Alex Pretti at the hands of United States Customs and Border Protection agents in Minneapolis, Bruce Springsteen responds with a fiery protest song, “Streets Of Minneapolis,” which denounces “Trump’s federal thugs,” “(Stephen) Miller and (Kristi) Noem’s dirty lies,” and calls for ICE to leave the city at once.” Streets Of Minneapolis Randy Blythe 1/28 Lamb Of God Frontman Says People Need To Speak Out Randy Blythe presents a lengthy piece illustrating how his views have been shaped over the period of time since the early days of Trump’s second term. The piece is essentially a rallying cry for people in the U.S. not to stay silent during these tumultuous times. Motley Crüe 1/28 Mick Mars Loses To Motley Crüe  The protracted legal battle between Motley Crüe and former guitarist Mick Mars reaches a definitive conclusion. The Honorable Patrick J. Walsh (Ret.), an independent arbitrator, issues a final award rejecting every claim made by Mars against the band and orders him to repay over $750,000 in unrecouped tour advances. Steven Tyler 1/28 Aerosmith Frontman’s Sexual Abuse Case Moves Forward Following a series of hearings, Los Angeles County Judge Patricia A. Young rules that the California-based claims in the child sex abuse lawsuit brought by Julia Misley against singer Steven Tyler will proceed to trial. Misley claims Tyler abused her for years beginning in 1973, when she was a high school sophomore. But in a partial victory for Tyler, the judge says she would toss out Misley’s separate claims tied to alleged abuse in Oregon, Washington, and Massachusetts. Metallica 1/29 Metallica Teams With Dr. Martens Metallica and Dr. Martens, British footwear and clothing brand, release the first of a two-part collection that includes graphics from two Metallica tours: 1989 “Damaged Justice” tour and the 1986 “Damage Inc.” trek. The second part reimagines the 1460 boot with a Metallica-exclusive black-on-black version, featuring a Metallica logo. Brian May 1/29 May Says America Is “Too Dangerous” Queen will never tour in the US again the band’s lead guitarist Brian May tells the Daily Mail. ‘America is a dangerous place at the moment, so you have to take that into account,’ says May. Queen last toured with singer Adam Lambert in ’23.   Tom Morello Bruce Springsteen 1/30 Tom Morello Plays Benefit Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) plays “A Concert of Solidarity & Resistance to Defend Minnesota!” to raise money for the families of victims of ICE and CBP shootings in Minneapolis. Renee Good was killed by a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on 1/7. Alex Pretti was killed by multiple United States Customs and Border Protection agents on 1/24. Bruce Springsteen performs as a “special guest.” He tells the crowd at First Avenue, a local music venue, that he sent his song (“Streets Of Minneapolis” – see above) to Morello to ask if he thought it was too “soapboxy.” “He said ‘nuance is great, but sometimes you have to kick them in the teeth,” Springsteen says before launching into the song the White House called “random” and? irrelevant.” ### The post The Month In Rock: January 2026 appeared first on RockinTown.