Day in Rock Report for 12/31/2021

(hennemusic) Metallica's music was streamed 1.3 billion times on Spotify in 2021. Metallica's coverage on the music streaming platform - which saw them reach 58 million listeners in 178 countries - marks the third year in a row that the group's songs were played more than a billion times on Spotify in a 12-month calendar period.

"With all the ups and downs of 2021, one thing remained consistent - you listened to a lot of Metallica on Spotify!," shared the band on social media. "Just when we thought you couldn't possibly listen to any more, you went and proved us wrong. Clocking in at 112.2M hours of streaming, we were the top artist for 1M of you! (read more)

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong shared via social media that he has decided to cancel his appearance on Miley Cyrus' New Year's Eve television special.

The New Year's Eve special will be broadcast from Miami on NBC and is being hosted by Cyrus and Pete Davidson, but will no longer include Armstong after he was recently exposed to COVID-19. (read more)

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's son Jack shared the big news that he has proposed to his girlfriend Aree Gearhart, and she said yes. His sister and mother both reacted to the engagement via social media.

The 36-year-old broke the news to fans via Instagram on Thursday (December 30th). He wrote, "Today I asked the most beautiful and loving woman I've ever met to marry me. She said yes!! (read more)

(hennemusic) Pink Floyd are streaming video of a rehearsal version of "The Division Bell" track, "A Great Day For Freedom", as a preview to the upcoming reissue of their 1995 concert film, "Pulse."

Due February 18, the restored and re-edited project captures the group on the European leg of a 1994 tour and, among other highlights, it presents the only filmed version of a full performance of the UK outfit's seminal 1973 record, "The Dark Side Of The Moon." (read more)

Very sad news for Van Halen fans that planned to see frontman David Lee Roth kick off his Las Vegas residency with a special New Year's Eve show tonight, the performance has been canceled.

Roth was set to launch what he has called his final shows, a special residency at the House Of Blues inside Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, but both the December 31st and January 1st shows have been canceled, according to the venue's website. (read more)

(hennemusic) The Scorpions are streaming the second of a three-part mini-series previewing their forthcoming album, "Rock Believer," ahead of the record's release in February.

Launch with the lead single, "Peacemaker", the group worked on the follow-up to the 2015 studio album, "Return To Forever", in their hometown of Hannover, Germany during the pandemic. (read more)

(hennemusic) Ann Wilson has shared video of the performance of a number of Heart classics that were captured during her U.S. solo tour this past summer.

Wilson and her band The Amazing Dawgs can be seen delivering "Love Alive", "Magic Man", "Crazy On You", "Straight On", "Even It Up" and "Barracuda" during an August 18 appearance at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH. (read more)

(hennemusic) Motley Crue singer Vince Neil earned a top 21 story from October 2021 after he was injured when he fell off the stage during his solo band's performance at the Monsters On The Mountain festival at LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, TN on October 15.

According to TMZ, the rocker was a few songs into his set when he stepped to the edge of the stage and suddenly tumbled to the cement floor below through a small gap between the speaker and the stage; he was assisted back to his feet and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where X-rays revealed that the singer had broken his ribs. (read more)

(hennemusic) Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford had a top 21 story from October 2021 after he revealed that he battled prostate cancer last year during the global pandemic.

"I had my little cancer battle a year ago, which I got through and that's in remission now, thank God," Halford tells Consequence Heavy while promoting the newly-released career-spanning box set, "50 Heavy Metal Years Of Music." "That happened while we were all locked down, so things happen for a reason as far as time sequence of events. I have nothing but gratitude to be at this point in my life, still doing what I love the most." (read more)

Ozzy Osbourne scored a top 21 story from October 2021 after he said that his forthcoming studio album, which is currently working on with Andrew Watt, will be similar in tone to his 2020 album "Ordinary Man."

The Black Sabbath legend worked with producer Watt on that effort and was backed by Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, with Watt taking on most of the guitar duties. (read more)

(hennemusic) Ace Frehley Jammed With Alice Cooper was a top 21 story from October 2021. Alice Cooper was joined by Ace Frehley for his 1972 classic, "School's Out", during a pair of concerts in Florida in October and fan filmed footage has been shared online.

The pair hooked up to perform the iconic track during Cooper's finale in West Palm Bach, Fl on October 10 and in Tampa, FL on October 11. Frehley - who is currently on the road as the opening act for Cooper's fall US tour - previously delivered "School's Out" with the shock-rocker in Brisbane during an Australian trek in 2017. (read more)

(hennemusic) Queensryche drummer Scott Rockenfield had a top 21 story from October 2021 after he filed a lawsuit against his fellow co-founders of the band over a number of alleged issues, including his dismissal from the group while on parental leave.

As first reported by Metal Sludge, Rockenfield filed the legal action on October 11 in a Snohomish County Court in the state of Washington against guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson and both of their wives, in addition to Queensryche Holdings, LLC and Tri-Ryche Cooperation, Inc. among other related companies. (read more)

Eddie Van Halen Hometown Plaque Dedication Video Goes Online was a top 21 story from October 2021: Pasadena Media has shared a video of the unveiling of the Eddie Van Halen hometown plaque dedication event that took place back on October 11th.

The plaque was placed on a wall outside of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium honoring the late Van Halen legend was unveiled during a ceremony that was not open to the public because of Covid-19 protocols. (read more)

Eric Church scored a top 21 story from October 2021 when he released a music video for his single "Heart On Fire," where he takes fans on a trip down memory lane of his past hits. The song comes from his triple album "Heart & Soul" and as we previously reported features a nod to Guns N' Roses.

According to the announcement the reflective video "offers a high-octane sizzle reel of Church's hit-filled journey to date, as each reminiscent clip flows naturally from one to the next, connected by the same common threads: passion, contemplation and a reverence for live music. (read more)

(hennemusic) Journey guitarist Neal Schon enjoyed a top 21 story from October 2021 after he performed the US national anthem prior to kickoff of Sunday's (October 10) NFL game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.

"What an amazing time we had today," shared Schon on social media. "Want to thank everyone involved today. You were all amazing. Thank you friends for allowing me this honor. It was an enormous high to soar with you all." (read more)

(hennemusic) A special tribute to late Rush legend Neil Peart was a top 21 story from October 2021: The Ohio State University Marching Band performed a Rush tribute in honor Neil Peart during its halftime show at Ohio Stadium as part of Ohio State University's homecoming game against University Of Maryland on October 9.

The outfit delivered a medley of classic Rush tracks, including "The Spirit Of Radio", "Fly By Night" and "Tom Sawyer", while presenting formations that replicated Peart and Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, and spelled out the title to a pair of the Canadian band's tracks, "2112" and "YYZ." (read more)

Carlos Santana earned a top 21 story from October 2021 after he released a music video for a track called "Move", his new collaboration with Matchbox Twenty singer/songwriter Rob Thomas and American Authors.

The song comes from Santana's forthcoming album, "Blessing And Miracles", which hits stores this Friday (October 15th). Carlos had this to say about the track, "'Move' came about very much like how 'Smooth' happened. (read more)