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Tool bassist Justin Chancellor has provided an update into the band’s famously-protracted album release schedule, revealing that the Los Angeles quartet will be hitting the studio following their upcoming tour of South America.

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Speaking to Summa Inferno, Chancellor explained that after Tool – whose last album arrived in 2019 – wrap up a run of March shows in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Brazil, they plan to “dedicate the next three months after that in the studio to organizing our ideas”.

“There are a lot of stages in the process,” Chancellor continued. “We all have ideas. When they’re good, when we like them, we kind of save them or memorize them. The really difficult process is when you actually get together and make decisions about how it’s going to end up. And that becomes a little more mathematical, a little more like in the classroom — there’s a blackboard and there’s numbers and you have to make decisions. So that’s the stage we haven’t completely pulled off yet, but we’re committed to do that when we get back.”

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Noting that the band “have a really good pile of stuff” after its members shared their individual ideas with others, Chancellor noted that the next stage of the process is where things become a lot more complicated.

“You have to make those decisions, and you have to kind of wrestle with each other a bit to get to that next stage,” he explained. “And then you have to record it, which is a whole other thing as well. It’s like a pregnancy, almost. When you go to the studio, you have to make this final decision of how it’s going to sound and how you’re going to play it, and it’s going to live like that forever.”

Though Tool celebrate their 35th anniversary in 2025, their lengthy history has only brought with it a comparatively-meager five full-length records. Famously, a 13-year gap followed the release of 2006’s 10,000 Days, with fifth album Fear Inoculum giving the band their third consecutive Billboard 200 chart-topper upon its August 2019 release.

While the band were forced to contend with a long-running lawsuit that delayed the production of their most recent record, Chancellor – who joined Tool ahead of 1996’s Ænima – defended the length of time the band spends working on material.

“It’s a real delicate thing to be able to pull off,” Chancellor explained. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable that we take a long time at all. I think that’s only natural, and that’s why I’m proud of it, because it was worked on really hard.”

Tool’s Fear Inoculum record also scored the band a pair of Grammy nominations, including Best Rock Song for its title track, and Best Metal Performance for “7empest” – with the band winning the latter. 

Notably, upon the release of 10-minute-and-21-second lead single “Fear Inoculum”, it became the longest song to enter the Hot 100 – dethroning David Bowie’s 2015 single “Blackstar” by 24 seconds in the process.

Tool were themselves outshone by André 3000 by almost two minutes in 2023, when his New Blue Sun album opener “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time” entered the chart at No. 90.

Veteran rockabilly musician Brian Setzer has revealed he’s currently unable to play guitar, with an unspecified autoimmune disease halting his celebrated abilities.

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Setzer shared the news on social media on Thursday (Feb. 13), giving fans an update as to his current status following a few months away from the stage. In his post, he revealed that towards the end of the Stray Cats’ 2024 summer tour (which wrapped in August), he was left with cramping hands and a diminished ability to play guitar.

“I’ve since discovered that I have an auto-immune disease. I cannot play guitar,” he told his followers. “There is no pain, but it feels like I am wearing a pair of gloves when I try to play. I have seen some progress in that I can hold a pen and tie my shoes. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I was at a point where I couldn’t even do that. 

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“Luckily, I have the best hospital in the world down the block from me. It’s called the Mayo Clinic. I know I will beat this, it will just take some time.”

Setzer first rose to fame at the start of the ‘80s as the guitarist and vocalist of New York rockabilly outfit Stray Cats. Following a string of successful albums and singles (including Hot 100 top ten hits “Rock This Town” and “Stray Cat Strut” from their 1981 self-titled debut), the group split in 1984 before reforming two years later.

Alongside further splits and reunions, Setzer has also been the leader of the eponymous Brian Setzer Orchestra since 1990. His most recent solo album, The Devil Always Collects, arrived in 2023, while Stray Cats returned in 2019 with 40, their first studio album in 26 years.

Setzer’s battle with an auto-immune disease isn’t the first time the acclaimed musician’s health has kept him away from the stage. In 2019, he was forced to cancel 26 dates of his Christmas Rocks! Tour due to being diagnosed with a severe case of tinnitus – a condition that causes sufferers to hear a constant noise or ringing in their ears.

“I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience this has caused all of the amazing people who make my tour happen and to my unbelievably loyal and devoted fans,” Setzer wrote at the time. “I hate to let you down and I hope you’ll understand.”

Though no touring plans have been affected by Setzer’s recent diagnosis, his positive demeanor bodes well for a swift return to the stage.

Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Jason Momoa and more have been added to the lineup for Black Sabbath’s final reunion concert.
On Monday (Feb. 17), Ozzy Osbourne‘s official Instagram account revealed the new additions to the star-studded Back to the Beginning show, set for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.

Aquaman actor Momoa will host the event, while Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello will serve as musical director. Other newly announced acts include Rival Sons, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, songwriter-producer Andrew Watt, and bassist Dave Ellefson.

In early February, Black Sabbath confirmed details of their last-ever live performance, which will feature the classic lineup of Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. It will be the first time the original band has performed together in two decades.

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“I’m not planning on doing a set with Black Sabbath but I am doing little bits and pieces with them,” Osbourne said recently on his Ozzy Speaks program on SiriusXM’s Ozzy’s Boneyard. “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable.”

Osbourne hasn’t staged a full concert since Dec. 31, 2018, the final date of his No More Tours trek. Just two months later, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and his health has since impacted further large-scale performance plans, leading to numerous cancellations.

Described as “the final show” on promotional artwork, the Back to the Beginning lineup also features Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Alice in Chains and Halestorm, Gojira, among others.

Check out the updated lineup poster for Black Sabbath’s final show on Instagram below.

Pantera’s latest stop on their European tour came with a legendary surprise when the metal heavyweights were joined on stage by none other than Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson for a rendition of their 1992 classic “Walk.”

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The metal legends took over Adidas Arena in Paris on Feb. 15, treating fans to a career-spanning set. Before launching into “Walk,” frontman Phil Anselmo addressed the crowd, noting that Dickinson was in attendance. Midway through the track, the Iron Maiden vocalist stormed the stage, mic in hand, to sing the song’s iconic chorus alongside Anselmo. The Pantera frontman even bowed in front of Dickinson in a moment of mutual metal respect.

Fan-shot footage of the moment quickly made waves online, with fans praising the crossover between two of metal’s most influential ac

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The surprise guest appearance came just days before Pantera kicks off their first U.K. and Ireland headlining tour in 20 years, with shows in Glasgow (Feb. 18), Leeds (Feb. 19), Dublin (Feb. 21), Birmingham (Feb. 23), and London (Feb. 25). The band will also return to the U.K. this July, supporting Black Sabbath at their final reunion show alongside Metallica, Slayer, Gojira, and Mastodon.

Pantera’s reunion tour, featuring core members Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown alongside Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante filling in for the late Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, has been a point of both celebration and controversy. While the tour has been met with strong demand, the band faced backlash in 2023 over Anselmo’s past actions, leading to festival cancellations in Germany and Austria.

Despite the controversy, Pantera has continued to sell out major venues across the globe, and Dickinson’s unexpected cameo only added to the excitement surrounding their current run.

Beyond their dominance on the live stage, Pantera’s legacy is solidified in the charts. The band made history in 1994 when Far Beyond Driven debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making it the first extreme metal album to ever claim the top spot. The record, fueled by tracks like “I’m Broken” and “5 Minutes Alone,” marked a turning point for metal’s mainstream acceptance.

Their follow-up albums continued their chart success, with The Great Southern Trendkill (No. 4, 1996) and Reinventing the Steel (No. 4, 2000) reinforcing their standing in heavy music. Meanwhile, their seminal 1992 release Vulgar Display of Power—featuring classics like “Walk” and “Mouth for War”—remains a defining album of the genre, certified double platinum by the RIAA.

Fans hoping for a full-scale Black Sabbath reunion at Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell show may need to temper their expectations, with the heavy metal pioneer revealing he won’t be playing a full set with the band.

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Osbourne made the announcement on his Ozzy Speaks program on SiriusXM channel Ozzy’s Boneyard, where he provided an update as to his plans for the recently-announced “Back to the Beginning” concert.

Described as “the final show” on the poster artwork, the lineup features both Black Sabbath and Osbourne alongside other big names such as Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. Other high-profile artists, such as Pantera, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Halestorm and recent Grammy Award-winners Gojira are also included.

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“I’m not planning on doing a set with Black Sabbath but I am doing little bits and pieces with them,” Osbourne explained. “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable.”

Osbourne hasn’t performed a full set since Dec. 31, 2018 on the final date of his No More Tours tour. Just two months later, the metal pioneer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and any plans for further large-scale performances have been affected by numerous cancellations and health issues

“I am trying to get back on my feet,” Osbourne added. “When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I’m not dead. I’m still actively doing things.”

These comments track with a previous update from Osbourne earlier this month, where he told listeners that he’s still soldiering on despite his myriad health issues.

“I have made it to 2025. I can’t walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I’m still alive,” he said. “I may be moaning that I can’t walk, but I look down the road, and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it.”

Speaking to the BBC following the announcement of the July concert, Osbourne’s wife and manager Sharon explained that the show was a chance for Osbourne to end a career which has been affected in recent years by numerous cancellations and health issues.

“He’s doing great. He’s doing really great,” she said. “He’s so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends. It’s exciting for everyone.”

“Ozzy didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there’s no been no full stop. This is his full stop.”

Chester Bennington‘s child Draven has revealed they are transgender.
In a Valentine’s Day message on Instagram (Feb. 14), the 22-year-old child of the late Linkin Park singer shared that they “came out as transgender” in 2024 and are currently in the process of transitioning.

“As today is a day to celebrate love and what love truly means, whether it’s for a partner, family, or ourselves, I thought it would be the perfect time to show some love to myself,” Draven wrote in a typed note. “For a long time, I tried to be someone, someone I truly wasn’t on the inside. Ignoring it worked for a while, but continuously coming to the crossroads of being happy or being complacent was one I couldn’t keep crossing.”

Draven revealed that in August 2024, they made the life-changing decision to come out as transgender and begin hormone replacement therapy. “It has been the best decision I’ve ever made in my life,” the said.

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Since sharing the news, Draven has received unwavering support from friends and family, including their mother, Samantha Bennington.

“I love each and every one of you who have shown me nothing but love and respect and see me for who I truly am,” they added. “With all the support and love I’ve received, I’ve built the strength to love myself. This is why I’m choosing to no longer hide who I am. Love is love. Happy Valentine’s Day,” Draven concluded.

Samantha Bennington, who was married to Chester from 1996 to 2005, expressed her pride and love for Draven in the comments section of the post.

“I’m so proud of you. I love you with all my heart and soul,” she wrote. “You’re my favorite human on the planet. I just want you happy and healthy forever and always.”

Chester Bennington passed away by suicide in July 2017 at the age of 41. He struggled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life. In addition to Draven, the musician shared sons Tyler, 18, and twin daughters, Lily and Lila, 13, with his second wife, Talinda Bentley. He was also father to sons Jamie, 28, and Isaiah, 27, from his relationship with ex-partner Elka Brand.

Draven, who has followed in their father’s footsteps to pursue a career in music, shared in 2023 with People that they hope to leave a lasting impact on fans, just as Chester did.

“Every time I hear somebody’s story, telling like how much my dad’s music impacted their life, I just think it’s really beautiful,” Draven said. “I think that’s really sweet how something that he was just doing as a passion, what he loved, had that effect on so many people.”

See Draven’s full Valentine’s Day post on Instagram below.

Este Haim has an especially gleeful photo up on Instagram that hints at an engagement to reported beau Jonathan Levin, tech entrepreneur and CEO of Chainalysis. Este, one third of sister band Haim with Danielle and Alana, posted a selfie that flashed what looks to be a diamond on her left finger on Thursday (Feb. […]

Sheryl Crow is bidding farewell to her Tesla. The Grammy-winning singer, 63, announced on Instagram Friday (Feb. 14) that she’s selling her Tesla and donating the proceeds to NPR. Her decision comes in response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s push for government efficiency through his unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to cut […]

Former Eagles guitarist, Don Felder, is recovering after he was abruptly rushed offstage after a medical emergency during a Rock Legends Cruise performance. In a video shared by an attendee and posted by TMZ, the musician is seen introducing the Eagles classic, “Tequila Sunrise,” sharing the inspiration behind the song before he began strumming his […]

Concurrent with the release of their new album Automatic today (Feb. 14), The Lumineers notch their eighth No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, as “Same Old Song” rises two places to the top of the tally (dated Feb. 22). The Lumineers slot into a four-way tie with The Black Keys, Death Cab for […]