This week’s Heavy Metal News Recap looks at Corey Taylor, Ozzy Osbourne, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and Jay Weinberg
Here’s the biggest heavy metal news stories from the last week. You can also just watch the highlight video below.
Corey Taylor, the charismatic frontman of SLIPKNOT, recently addressed concerns from fans regarding his well-being in a new video message.
This comes in the wake of Taylor canceling a previously scheduled solo tour.
In a public announcement earlier this month, Corey Taylor disclosed that he decided to scrap his solo tour dates in North America, citing the need to take a hiatus to prioritize his mental and physical health and to spend quality time with his family. Surprising some fans, Taylor subsequently revealed plans for a short series of four shows in Asia, scheduled to take place between late March and early April.
The decision to proceed with the Asia tour sparked confusion among some of the 50-year-old musician’s followers, who questioned the contrast between canceling North American shows and moving forward with the Asian gigs.
Corey recently posted a video to his Instagram account, responding to fans, saying: “Hey everybody, Corey Taylor here. Where do I even start?
“I decided to make this video in response to a lot of the feedback that came out after I announced that I would be carrying on with my Southeast Asia run. Originally, that was supposed to be mentioned in the statement that I released relating to my mental health lapse.
“The truth of the matter is I understand why so many of you are upset, and I’m just gonna break it down for you,” he continued. “I, over the last year, have had a complete and utter breakdown of boundaries, mental health, ego, entitlement, the whole nine yards, culminating in a very, very real, very near relapse that I kind of don’t recognize myself.
“So, again, I wanted to address this and just tell people that I needed time to reset, I needed time to start working on my heart and my mind and get straight. The reason I’m keeping the Southeast Asia run, it’s literally four shows, it’s literally a week. I’m gonna see how I do with that and just take it day by day, basically. I’m working on self-care right now, getting the help that I need and surrounding myself with my family.
“So, to everyone concerned with me, thank you very much. I appreciate it. To everyone who’s upset, I hope this answers any of your questions. I’m just doing the best for me right now. And it’s a long road and I don’t know what’s at the end of it, but I look forward to it. I have gratitude for it, and I hope you can show me some patience. Thank you.”
Corey Taylor recently concluded European and North American tours in support of his second solo album, “CMF2,” released in September. This album, Taylor‘s debut with BMG and the inaugural release under his label imprint, Decibel Cooper Recordings, was produced by Jay Ruston, known for his work with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER, and AMON AMARTH. Ruston had also helmed STONE SOUR‘s “Hydrograd” in 2017 and Taylor‘s previous solo effort, “CMFT,” in 2020.
As well, funk metal powerhouse INFECTIOUS GROOVES is gearing up for their Australian tour with an impressive lineup shakeup which features ex-SLIPKNOT drummer Jay Weinberg.
METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES‘ Mike Muir, and Dean Pleasants have enlisted the skills of Weinberg to step in for INFECTIOUS GROOVES drummer Brooks Wackerman. Adding to the excitement, the band has brought back ex-INFECTIOUS GROOVES guitarist Dave Kushner, known for his work with VELVET REVOLVER, for a nostalgic reunion.
While the initial announcement highlights the Byron Bay Bluesfest on April 1 as the first stop, indications suggest that more tour dates will be unveiled shortly. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned for further updates and additional opportunities to witness this stellar lineup in action.
INFECTIOUS GROOVES posted the following statement to their social media: “Warning Number One… This Ain’t No April Fool’s joke… but you definitely won’t be laughing if you miss out on Infectious Grooves April 1st at the Byron Bay Bluesfest!”
“Warning Number Two… Infectious Grooves is gonna bring a super special extra Funk and Punk and everything in between edition.
“Unfortunately our brother, drummer Brooks Wakerman was not available to do this run of shows due to Avenged Sevenfold dates.
“Drummer for IG is definitely not an easy gig to fill. Starting with Stephen Perkins (Infectious Grooves) on drums, then followed with a 17 year old Josh Freese (FOO FIGHTERS etc) and then came a 14 year old Brooks (The Teenage Drum Sensation) Wakerman, IG has always been blessed with some amazing drummers.
“So Warning number Three… IG is beyond stoked and honored to be able to have the incredible Jay Weinberg to be the driving force as he beats the funk out of the drums on this run!
“‘It’s an absolute honor to play with the legendary Infectious Grooves on this incredibly exciting Australian tour! Playing with some of my favorite musicians, in one of the most beautiful countries, for some of the greatest fans of heavy music in the world…I couldn’t be more thrilled to get started. See you all soon!’- Jay
“Rounding out the band, on guitar will be a bit of reunion. Dave Kushner (VELVET REVOLVER etc) played on some of the first IG album.
“He’ll be reuniting with IG for these dates also. Dave is a good friend and we are all looking forward to getting on stage and having a blast, and giving a big dose of the Infectious Grooves!
“Warning number Five… (yes, we skipped warning number 4, we’ll save that for later, lol)…
“Super limited dates due to everyone’s schedule. We’d love to do a massive run of dates, but it’s not possible with everyone’s schedule. These are short notice, but we jumped at the opportunity to lock some dates in at this time.
“So when the rest of the dates are announced, be there or be prepared to let your friends tell you what you missed out.
“Needless to say, Robert Trujillo, Mike Muir and Dean Pleasants are beyond stoked to welcome Jay Weinberg and Dave Kushner in for this event (and a few more soon to be announced shows)!”
Also, lead vocalist Jesse Leach has proudly announced the completion of lyric writing for the new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE album, the highly-anticipated successor to 2019’s “Atonement”.
Sharing the exciting news about the status of the new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE album via his social media this past Monday (January 22), the 45-year-old Leach, residing in Woodstock, New York with his fiancée Corinne Paris, known as Philia Porphyra, posted: “Lyric writing for the past year and a half! As of the 20th all lyrics have been finalized and completed.
“I still have a few more things to take care of vocally in the coming weeks before I can say it’s finalized.
“This was the single most difficult and rewarding process of my career,” he continued. “I grew a lot as a writer and as a human during all of it.
“Everyone is different when it comes to their work or their art. Sometimes it’s seemingly effortless and other times it is stifling and frustrating.
“If I’ve learned anything it is that persistence, discipline and passion go hand in hand with humility and transition,” Jesse added. “It’s learning how to let go of an idea even after you’ve spent weeks on it. Working day after day hammering away, re-structuring, losing sleep having the melodies haunt your wakeful nights. Then finally accepting it isn’t the correct fit. Then allowing it to be destroyed or set aside. That or… Hearing a song, having to pull over on the side of the road to write a line down and hum a melody into my phone. Turing around heading home to write and demo it, track it with in a 3 hour period.
“I feel a sense of accomplishment and relief. I feel exhausted and elated. I am eager to finish tracking after the @shiprocked cruise. Until then I will be working as much as possible of the remaining ‘hand written lyric orders.’
“Thanks again for all of your patience everyone!”
And finally, Sharon has revealed that Ozzy Osbourne is gearing up to “bid farewell” to his fans with a pair of ultimate performances in his original birthplace of Birmingham, England.
As reported by the Mirror, the iconic vocalist’s spouse and manager shared insights into Ozzy Osbourne‘s stage return during her new “Cut The Crap” tour in London. The tour is scheduled to hit Birmingham this Wednesday and will then return to London the following weekend.
Sharon discussed the chances of Ozzy Osbourne performing live again, saying: “He won’t tour again, but we are planning on doing two more shows to say goodbye as he feels like ‘I have never said goodbye to my fans and I want to say goodbye properly’.” Seeming to suggest the venue could be Aston Villa’s stadium Villa Park, she added: “We will do it in Aston Villa where Ozzy is from.
“His voice is still absolutely perfect,” she continued. “And all the time he has been off, he still does his singing lessons, so his voice is perfect. And he can joke, yeah. He has all these melodies in his head. Even if you don’t like his music, you can’t not like Ozzy; he just draws you in.”
In the past four years, Ozzy Osbourne disclosed his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that progresses slowly. Additionally, he faced challenges such as a severe fall and the displacement of metal rods implanted in his spine after a quad-bike incident in 2003.