Day in Rock Report for 07/28/2021

ZZ Top shared the very sad news via social media Wednesday afternoon (July 28th) that legendary band bassist Dusty Hill passed away in his sleep.

The band shared a photo of Dusty and wrote via Facebook, "We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX. (read more)

(hennemusic) Wolfgang Van Halen launched the live debut of Mammoth WVH with its first-ever full concert performance during a club show in Lawrence, KS on July 27.

The gig at the city's Bottleneck venue saw the rocker deliver 12 tracks from the self-titled debut album, according to setlist.fm, starting with show-opener "Don't Back Down" - video of which has surfaced online alongside a clip of "Think It Over." (read more)

(hennemusic) ZZ Top have announced that bassist Dusty Hill has been temporarily sidelined from the band's North American tour so that he can receive treatment on his hip.

"The members of ZZ Top, Billy, and Frank, would like to share that Dusty, their fearless Bass player, is on a short detour back to Texas, to address a hip issue," shared the pair on social media on July 23. "They await a speedy recovery and have him back pronto. (read more)

(hennemusic) Rush have announced that they will screen the Director's Cut of their 2019 film, "Cinema Strangiato", in theaters worldwide on Thursday, September 9.

The alternate "Director's Cut" edition of the project - which presents material from the band's 2015 R40 40th anniversary tour - will present a revamped setlist including new additions of bonus tracks "One Little Victory" and "Red Barchetta" as well as "Cygnus X-1 / "The Story So Far" featuring Neil Peart's final recorded drum solo masterpiece. (read more)

(hennemusic) AC/DC are telling the story behind the making of a video for the "Power Up" track, "Witch's Spell", in a new audio package posted by the band.

Angus Young, Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams can be heard detailing the production of the clip, which was directed, edited and animated by Wolf & Crow using band performance footage shot by Clemens Habicht for the latest song issued from the band's seventeenth studio record. (read more)

(hennemusic) Greta Van Fleet are sharing a live performance video of the song "Built By Nations", which is a track from their latest album, "The Battle At Garden's Gate."

The Michigan outfit recorded the follow-up to 2018's "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army" in Los Angeles with producer Greg Kurstin; the group's second full length record debuted at No. 7 on the US Billboard 200 earlier this year. (read more)

(hennemusic) Metallica are streaming audio of a pre-production rehearsal version of their 1991 classic, "Don't Tread On Me", from the forthcoming expanded reissue of their self-titled fifth album.

"Before we went down to LA to record 'The Black Album', we holed up at Bayview Studios in Richmond, CA, to rehearse all twelve songs," says the band. "This version of 'Don't Tread On Me' was recorded on the last day of that session when we ran through the record in its entirety. The complete rehearsal of the album is available in the Remastered Deluxe Box Set for 'The Black Album.'" (read more)

Dream Theater have announced that they will be releasing their new studio album, which will be entitled "A View From The Top Of The World" on October 22nd.

The acclaimed band's 15th studio record was produced by John Petrucci, engineered and additional production by James "Jimmy T" Meslin and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap. (read more)

Switchfoot have released a music video for their latest single "the bones of us." The track comes from their forthcoming album, "interrobang," which is set for release on August 20

Frontman Jon Foreman had this to say about the Erick Frost directed clip, "'the bones of us' is a song that attempts to move from the death of the past into a brighter future. (read more)

(hennemusic) Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing's new band, KK's Priest, is streaming a video for "Brothers Of The Road", the latest track issued from their forthcoming debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner."

Due October 1, the project sees Downing joined by a lineup that includes former Judas Priest vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens, as well as guitarist A.J. Mills (Hostile), bassist Tony Newton (Voodoo Six) and drummer Sean Elg (Cage, The Three Tremors). (read more)

Polychuck just released his "Shadows Exposed" EP and to celebrate we asked him to tell us about the song "Beating Myself Down". Here is the story:

I started messing around on the piano with something that sounded like The Clash's London Calling song, and I took it from there. For me, the melody was clearly going to be kind of uplifting and motivational. (read more)