Good morning Radicals! Here’s the latest news from the world of rock:
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong dialed from his home into The Late Late Show With James Corden on Tuesday night (April 28th), where he and his sons Joey and Jakob performed the 1967 Tommy James and the Shondells classic “I Think We’re Alone Now.”
Armstrong initially released a version of the tune last month, as part of his “No Fun Mondays” quarantine cover series.
Joey and Jakob are both in bands of their own and their father told us not long ago that he’s proud of both boys: “Yeah, they’re in great bands. They’re really good. I’m a fan. I wouldn’t be answering this question if I thought they sucked. They’re really good bands — super creative and totally rockin’ and they’re different. And they love music more than anything else.”
In the interview before the performance, James Corden asked Billie Joe if he would ever consider acting again after appearing on American Idiot on Broadway and in several films. Billie Joe replied, “I like to think of myself as a pretty decent B-movie actor. I want to do things like — and this is not a B-movie — I want to be on The Young And The Restless, do a soap opera.”
Corden said, “I think we can organize that,” noting that “all of those soaps tape in the studio directly underneath us.”
Green Day’s latest album, Father Of All Motherf**kers, came out earlier this year.
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has praised Denmark’s response to the new coronavirus. Ulrich, a native of that country, said that the way it has handled the crisis is “inspiring for the rest of us.”
Ulrich, who was born in Denmark and lived there until the age of 16 when he moved to Los Angeles, discussed the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday (April 28th) during a livestreamed chat with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
The drummer explained, “Denmark was one of the first countries anywhere in the world to actually go into complete shutdown, and they have registered the lowest case numbers in all of Western Europe. Just about a week a half ago now, they started opening up daycare and kindergartens and schools. And so far it’s going well.”
Ulrich continued, “When I think of Denmark, I just think of the word ‘we.’ Everything in Denmark is always ‘we’ and ‘us’ and less about ‘I’ and ‘me.’ And so when I think of what Denmark has done through this crisis, I’m very proud to call myself a Dane. And I think that the progress that’s being made there is certainly encouraging and inspiring for the rest of us.”
Denmark recently began slowly lifting restrictions that curbed the spread of the virus after shutting most of the country down early in the crisis. Schools for children up to age 11 have reopened, as have small businesses such as hairdressers and tattoo parlors. Denmark also widened its testing to include people showing mild symptoms.
At press time, there were a total of 9,206 confirmed coronavirus cases in Denmark and 443 deaths in a population of 5.8 million.
Ex-Five Finger Death Punch drummer Jeremy Spencer has introduced his new band, called Psychosexual, in which he has taken the role of frontman as the masked Devil Daddy. Spencer is joined by guitarist Crucifier, bassist Astaroth and drummer Volac in the group.
The band will release its debut album, Torch The Faith, later this year through Spencer’s own 6ex Records. The first single and video, “Let The Sin Begin,” is out now, featuring an array of dark imagery and exotic dancers.
Spencer said about the project, “I’ve been such a fan of so many types of music from Bowie to Devo to black metal bands, Psychosexual really is the outlet I’ve needed to bring all these things together in one big Evil Stew.”
A tour to support the release of Psychosexual’s new album is planned for late fall/early winter, pending the state of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spencer, an original member of Five Finger Death Punch, left that band after undergoing back surgery in the fall of 2018 that required a significant recovery period. Spencer’s replacement, Charlie “The Engine” Engen, made his recording debut with the band on the recently released F8 album.
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📷 by @marilynmanson ! Just waiting for this finished masterpiece to be released.
Marilyn Manson has completed work on his new studio album. The project’s status was revealed by collaborator Shooter Jennings, who took to his Instagram to say that the follow-up to 2017’s Heaven Upside Down was “finished,” adding that it was a “masterpiece.”
Manson replied to Jennings’ post, writing in the comments, “Finished masterpiece album” and “S**t is gonna get real.”
In April 2019, Manson said that his upcoming album was nearly done, later adding that he wouldn’t compare his new record to his past work. He explained, “I wouldn’t compare it to any of my other records, but you hear a bit of everything. It’s like I’ve focused everything into one spot, finally.”
The album will feature Manson’s guitarist Paul Wiley, as will his new drummer, Brandon Pertzborn. A title and release date for Manson’s 11th studio effort have yet to be unveiled.
Guns N’ Roses have been “working fastidiously on killer stuff” for a new album, according to bassist Duff McKagan‘s wife Susan. The latter added on the “Appetite For Distortion” podcast, “I’ve heard bits and bobs and it’s pretty epic. I do wanna spread the good news, but not detailed news, I guess.” Rumors of a new album — the band’s first since 2008 — have been circulating ever since Duff and guitarist Slash rejoined the group in 2016.
Now, for something adorable! A father and his three-year-old daughter have gone viral with their incredibly cute rendition of Rage Against The Machine‘s normally incendiary “Killing In The Name.” The rendition by Ujang Ijon and his daughter Audrey does not, however, include the iconic line “F**k you, I won’t do what you tell me,” even if Audrey’s vocals are still pretty fired up. Rage guitarist Tom Morello has given the clip his seal of approval.
