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Metal Hall of Fame

Metal Hall of Fame

Metal News

106 articles covering inductee announcements, gala events, interviews, and metal milestones.

Showing 106 articles

February 3, 2026 Metal News

Metal Hall of Fame Sunset Strip Blowout Bash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  February 3, 2026  METAL HALL OF FAME SUNSET STRIP BLOWOUT BASH Rockstars And Celebrities Came Out To Honor Music’s Legendary Location Rikki Rockett – 2026 Metal Hall of Fame Red Carpet Rockstars, Music Industry Executives, and Fans from around the world attended the 2026 Metal Hall of Fame Sunset Strip Blowout Bash […]

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December 16, 2025 Metal News

Metal Hall of Fame Takes Over The Sunset Strip For 2026 Blowout Bash

Los Angeles, CA, (December 16, 2025) – The Metal Hall of Fame will take over the Sunset Strip for the 2026 Blowout Bash, January 21, 2026!! Two iconic venues, one legendary night!! “We invite all the fans to join us in celebrating the 80’s, the ultimate era of Heavy Metal!!” says Metal Hall of Fame […]

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November 12, 2025 Metal News

Nita Strauss interview for the Metal Hall of Fame

By Ray Van Horn, Jr. You know her name.  Already a legend of hard rock and metal as Alice Cooper’s right hand axe for more than a decade.  Formerly slinging guitar for The Iron Maidens, perhaps the most significant metal cover band in history.  A member of Los Angeles Kiss, As Blood Runs Black, Femme […]

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October 21, 2025 Metal News

Ace Frehley Forever: Remembering the Spaceman

By RVHOctober 17, 2025 In the rock and metal community, we still haven’t healed from the loss of Ozzy Osbourne — and yet yesterday, October 16, 2025, we lost another giant from our leagues: The Space Ace, Ace Frehley. Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley, one of the founding members of KISS and perhaps the most storied […]

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September 29, 2025 Metal News

Joe Perry Project – Capitol Theatre 2025

Joe Perry Project – 08.27.25 – Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, and Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots lit afire the sold-out Capitol Theatre, plowing through Aerosmith deep cuts, Joe Perry Project songs, and some cool renditions of Crowes and STP tunes. They were 100% […]

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September 29, 2025 Metal News

Lee Aaron: Exclusive Interview for the Metal Hall of Fame

Lee Aaron interview for the Metal Hall of FameBy Ray Van Horn, Jr. In 2016, I was writing for Blabbermouth.com and assigned a review of Canadian metal, jazz, blues, and opera legend Lee Aaron’s Fire and Gasoline album. It had been her first recording since her 2004 jazz-pop experiment Beautiful Things (Aaron had already released a full jazz album […]

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September 12, 2025 Metal News

Betsy Bitch interview

By Ray Van Horn, Jr. In 2016, I was working on a personal project where I sought to cast a long-deserved spotlight upon the ladies who have fashioned their own brand upon the heavy metal scene.  While today’s metal leagues have duly become more gender-unified, it was a far tougher battle for women playing heavy […]

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September 3, 2025 Metal News

Wendy Dio and David Ellefson Join Metal Hall of Fame Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 3, 2025Contact: 973-263-0420 Wendy Dio, David Ellefson, and Industry Icons Join Metal Hall of Fame Board of Directors Los Angeles, CA – The Metal Hall of Fame (MHOF) today announced a major expansion of its Board of Directors, welcoming legendary music manager Wendy Dio, Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, and a slate of other industry icons. This […]

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August 4, 2025 Metal Milestones

Into the Pit – – A Thrash Starter Pack 

Thrash may be the frothing mad dog at the Heavy music pound, but make no mistake: Metal’s biggest subgenre is not just some mindless, savage beast. Bred from the stock of New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Punk, and Doom, the Thrash mutt is akin to Cerberus, the 3-headed hound of Hades. One head growls […]

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July 7, 2025 Metal Milestones Metal News

Black Sabbath – Masters of Reality

What is this that stands before me?  I remember the days when Black Sabbath were widely scoffed at and dismissed, not just in pop culture, but even in some corners of the Heavy Metal scene. “Ozzy Is so crazy.” “That’s just noise.” “What is ‘Snowblind’ about, anyway?” “Did they really sell their souls for Rock […]

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July 4, 2025 Metal Milestones

1985:  Metal’s Formative Year

By Ray Van Horn, Jr. 1985.  Forty years ago.  Let that simmer in your head a moment. The Night Stalker Richard Ramirez began his reign of terror over Los Angeles, notching the first two of his twelve counts of murder.  The thaw in the long-dragging Cold War between the United States and the former Soviet […]

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April 17, 2025 Metal Milestones

Best Metal Albums from 2010 – 2019

By Rich Catino  For this decade I am trying not repeating any of the bands I picked an album from 2000-2009, unless of course they have another noteworthy album to date.  2010:   Accept – Blood Of The Nations: First album with new singer Mark Tornillo and it’s a win win.    Jorn – Dio: The Norwegian […]

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March 20, 2025 Metal News

Metal Hall of Fame Unveils “Metal Across America” Artwork and T-Shirt Collection

CLIFTON, N.J. (March 20, 2025) – The Metal Hall of Fame is proud to announce an exciting new Metal Across America Artwork and T-Shirt Collection!! The stunning imagery depicts the iconic Metal Hall of Fame Trophy interwoven with historical landmarks unique to each State. The Metal Across America collection enables fans to make Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music relevant in their specific states, in […]

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February 26, 2025 Metal News

Metal Hall of Fame & West Coast Leather Unleash Iconic Designer Jacket Collection

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:2-26-2025Contact: 973-263-0420 CLIFTON, NJ, (February 26, 2025) – The Metal Hall of Fame and celebrity clothing designer West Coast Leather have joined forces for a stunning Metal Hall of Fame designer jacket collection, which are available for both Metal Hall of Fame Inductees and the Metalheads alike. Every jacket is meticulously hand crafted […]

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February 20, 2025 Metal News

Interview with Metal Hall of Fame Founder and CEO Pat Gesualdo

For Immediate Release February 20, 2024 San Francisco, California Written by Stylist & Fashion Blogger Jamie Lee Kendall  PR contact Jamie Lee Kendall 415-362-8300 or westcoastleathersf@gmail.com For West Coast Leather TV American fashion designer Skip Pas of West Coast Leather partnered with the Metal Hall of Fame to make custom jackets for the Inductees.  They […]

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January 13, 2025 Metal News

Metal Hall of Fame Gala 2025: Telethon for Wildfire Relief

ANAHEIM, C.A. (January 7, 2025) – The 9th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala will now transform to a 2025 fundraising telethon to help raise money for displaced families of the recent Los Angeles County wildfires.  The Gala will be held January 22, 2025, at the Grand Theater, Anaheim, CA.  A Celebrity Red Carpet will […]

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December 12, 2024 Metal News

Metal Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees: 9th Annual Gala

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Metal Hall of Fame is thrilled to announce a partial list of legendary rockstars set to be inducted at the 9th Annual Gala Induction Ceremony, happening on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Grand Theater in Anaheim, CA. This star-studded event, sponsored by Sammy Radio, Ellefson Coffee Co., Troubadour Amplification, and […]

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December 2, 2024 Metal News

Firerock Music Group Drops The 1St Metal Christmas Track With GuitaristChris Poland, Pat Gesualdo, And “Metal” Mike Chlasciak

FIREROCK MUSIC GROUP DROPS THE 1ST METAL CHRISTMAS TRACK WITH GUITARIST CHRIS POLAND, PAT GESUALDO, AND “METAL” MIKE CHLASCIAK For Immediate Release: FireRock Music Group has just released “The 1st Metal Christmas.” The 2024 version of the Annual project features a “real” metal rendition of the Christmas favorite “Carol of the Bells.” The track features […]

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September 5, 2024 Metal Milestones

Metal Milestones

What is the Metal that made you? Not necessarily the greatest Heavy albums of all time, or even your personal favorites, but the songs that played a foundational role in your musical upbringing. The tunes that came along at pivotal moments in your life and changed your whole aural perspective. Where the sounds connected, and […]

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August 19, 2024 Metal Milestones

Best 75 Albums Of The Decade: 2000-2009

Best 75 Albums Of The Decade: 2000-2009 My fellow Metal Hall writer, Jack Mangan, has inspired me with his laundry list (bro, 200 ?? 😀 \m/ ) of the best songs from the 21st century. Whether it be his favorite song(s), something different he wants you learn about, innovative music, a band reinventing themselves, what […]

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August 12, 2024 Metal Milestones

The 200 Best Metal Songs of the 21st Century, so far – – part 2

Here it is, the second part of the list begun in The 200 Best Metal Songs of the 21st Century, so far – – part 1. Disclaimers: Journalists can and should try to capture the zeitgeist. The great ones do just that. Too often, though, music writers speak as if their opinion is law, and […]

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August 7, 2024 Metal Milestones

The 200 Best Metal Songs of the 21st Century, so far – – part 1

21st Century Metal Man* It’s been a hell of a 21st century, so far.  The internet is soon going to be carpet-bombed with articles trying to explain the first twenty-five years with analysis, observations, and listicles.  So let’s start the shelling here and now.  Bombers can open bomb bays.**  Amidst all the cultural Fear and […]

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July 7, 2024 Metal Milestones

Hymns From The Metal Church Parish

Many, many years ago, on a distant shore (specifically, the Pacific Northwest), Metal Church was born. Four decades, four recorded vocalists, and 13 albums later, the band has established a unique and powerful legacy that’s impacted nearly every facet of the Heavy Metal scene. They hit the world like a ton of bricks. Then and […]

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June 12, 2024 Metal Milestones

Death and Black Metal Pioneers of the 1980s – Possessed, Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Mercyful Fate

By Rich Catino and Jack Mangan  The 80s was the golden era of Heavy Metal, much of it by today’s standards now considered in the Hard Rock family, which included 70s Proto Heavy Metal: Kiss, Purple, Alice Cooper, Rainbow, AC/DC, and even Aerosmith and Queen, with their diversity and hard guitars. Everyone knows and remembers […]

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May 11, 2024 Metal Milestones

Judas Priest – Never Forget

The music that matters most to us in our formative years often helps us to figure out who we are, who we want to be, who we’re going to become. Speaking for myself, most of the crucial albums and songs from my teenage years are still with me today. My relationship with the music has […]

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April 4, 2024 Metal Milestones

Terrible Songs From Brilliant Albums, Part 4

Even masterpieces can have imperfections. Sometimes those flaws contrast the overall brilliance, paradoxically elevating the greatness of the piece. Or sure, sometimes, the missteps are just blemishes on an otherwise great work of art, nothing more. (In plain English: sometimes shit songs end up on great albums.) Either way, it can sometimes be fun to […]

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March 9, 2024 Metal Milestones

The Band That Walked the Line

The Signs were everywhere in 1990. A certain strain of Heavy Metal had become commercialized and commodified to ascend the Pop charts, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Mariah Carey, Wilson Phillips, Madonna, etc. It felt like an invasion of coiffed, lecherous, big-haired dudes on our TVs and radios, either leering through obnoxious hit fodder […]

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March 9, 2024 Metal Milestones

Don’t Call It Hair Metal: Part 3, 90-93ish & the Canadians

By: Rich Catino “Hair”, Glam Metal’s last stand before hard rock music changed as grunge, alternative, and later in the 90s/early2000’s the worst abomination, nu “Metal”, which was everything to be the anti-metal of Heavy Metal. I knew it when I started seeing the band pictures in Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs magazines, the fashion […]

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March 5, 2024 Metal News

Metal Hall Of Fame To Be Featured At Bike Week Daytona Beach Florida

Clifton, NJ (February 29, 2024) – The Metal Hall of Fame will be featured at Bike Week, the world’s largest motorcycle event in Daytona Beach Florida, from March 6-10, 2024, as part of the Hall’s “Metal Across America Tour.” Fans can stop by the state-or-the-art Metal Hall of Fame Tour Bus located at the Aku […]

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January 29, 2024 Metal Milestones

Metal Hall of Fame Gala 2024

Loud, audacious, historic, and a hell of a good time. The 7th annual Metal Hall of Fame gala was an unforgettable evening of tributes, stories, speeches, and live music, featuring a bevy of Heavy Metal elders and rising stars, assembled in Anaheim, CA to induct the Hall of Fame class of 2024. It’s Metal’s biggest […]

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January 10, 2024 Metal News

David Ellefson, Chris Poland, London, And Others Just Added For 2024 Metal Hall Of Fame Gala

DAVID ELLEFSON, CHRIS POLAND, LONDON, AND OTHERS JUST ADDED FOR 2024 METAL HALL OF FAME GALA Clifton, NJ, (January 10, 2024) – The Metal Hall of Fame is getting ready to rock Anaheim and Southern California once again with the 7th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala. “The Most Important Night In Hard Rock and […]

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January 9, 2024 Metal News

Deko Entertainment To Release Metal Hall Of Fame All Stars Cd

Clifton, NJ, – Deko Entertainment and the Metal Hall of Fame     today announced the upcoming release from the “Metal Hall of Fame All-Stars CD,” a collaboration of Iconic musicians joining together to support the Metal Hall of Fame’s mission of preserving Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music for future generations. “Attack of The […]

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January 4, 2024 Metal Milestones

Shout to Mars

Now listen up. Their sophomore album may have released in September 1983, but Motley Crue’s dominant era truly began in 1984. That’s when the major singles broke, and when many of us first discovered them. “Shout at the Devil” was an absolute obsession in my circles, supplanting Def Leppard’s “Pyromania” at the prime position in […]

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December 13, 2023 Metal Milestones

Sebastian Bach: Won’t Be the One Left Behind

I’d like to talk to you today about someone who is very shy, quiet, and timid. . . Just kidding. As soon as he hit the scene in 1989, Sebastian Bach was subjected to scorn, resentment, love, admiration, envy, and lust from various aspects of the audience. Everyon e had an opinion about Sebastian Bach […]

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December 5, 2023 Metal News

Metallica’S Blackened® Whiskey To Sponsor Annual Metal Hall Of Fame Gala

Clifton, NJ, (November 28, 2023) – BLACKENED®, the award winning whiskey from Metallica, will be a sponsor of the 2024 Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala, January 24, 2024, at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove, Anaheim, CA. BLACKENED® will have a special branding experience and will include a free sampling event for all Metal Hall […]

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November 26, 2023 Metal Milestones

New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal Part 3, in 2023: Haunt, Eternal Champion, Satan’s Fall, Burning

There are so many good, and great bands keeping the music alive from the U.S. traditional and New Wave of British Heavy Metal from the 80s like Maiden, Priest, Sabbath, Dio, Accept, Scorpions, Saxon, Diamond Head, etc. Just look at all the names in this collage, and several I talked about a couple years ago […]

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November 9, 2023 Metal Milestones

Metal Legacy: Six Greats in a Row

Most bands suck. It’s a fact. Very few produce even one great studio album, let alone back-to-back masterpieces. Some of the greats have done as many as 5 in a row, but how many bands/artists have managed 6 or more consecutive classics? The Six Straight Society is the most elite of clubs, and – – […]

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October 5, 2023 Metal Milestones

Terrible Songs From Brilliant Albums, Part 3

It’s the return of Metal trash-talk! Here are the rules of the game: Single out an absolute masterpiece of an album, a timeless release from a great band, full of brilliant songs and priceless treasures. We’re talking desert-island-disc material. Identify the bad song(s). That’s it. We don’t want crap songs from crap artists; we don’t […]

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September 25, 2023 Metal Milestones

Don’t Call It Hair Metal: Part 2, 1986-1989

Hopefully you have, or will, read the first part to this topic here at the Metal Hall titled Don’t Call It Hair Metal: Part 1 1982-85. My article title inspired by a new book of the same name by Canadian guitarist Sean Kelly, currently from the Lee Aaron band and Cony Hatch. In part one […]

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September 4, 2023 Metal Milestones

Back in Black

AC/DC started the Metal 80s with tragedy and triumph. Tragedy in February of 1980, with the shocking loss of their lead singer, Bon Scott, at the far-too-young age of 33, and then triumph in July of the same year, with the release of their legendary “Back in Black” album. Almost directly after Bon Scott’s death, […]

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August 7, 2023 Metal Milestones

Defenders of the Faith

The older kids spoke with reverence for their recent hits: “Breaking the Law,” “Livin’ After Midnight,” “Hellion/Electric Eye,” “Heading Out to the Highway,” and especially “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’.” But some of us had a different point of entry into the music of Judas Priest. My introduction was the third and final single for […]

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August 7, 2023 Metal Milestones

Don’t Call It Hair Metal: Part 1 1982-85

Note: Thanks to fellow Metal Hall writer Jack Mangan for your input and suggestions, and guitarist Jack Frost (Seven Witches, Aldo Nova, ex Savatage) to remember those who were an influence. Don’t Call It Hair Metal is a new book by Canadian guitarist Sean Kelly currently from the Lee Aaron band and Cony Hatch. I have chose to […]

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July 5, 2023 Metal Milestones

Helloween – Keeper of the Power Metal Keys

The mid-1980s. Traditional Heavy Metal was firmly established at this point, still expanding in strength and reach, becoming well-defined and familiar to its core audience. This was the era when offshoots like Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Death Metal, and Black Metal began pushing heavy music toward extremes. But there was another boundary-smashing sub-genre on the […]

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June 4, 2023 Metal News

Armored Saint To Be Inducted Into Metal Hall Of Fame At The Whiskey A Go-Go

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5-30-2023 Clifton, NJ (May 30, 2023) – U.S. Heavy Metal Giants Armored Saint will be Inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame during the Metal Hall of Fame Summer Showcase, at the Whiskey A Go-Go, July 13, 2023. The ceremony will feature 95.5 KLOS DJ Marci Wiser as host. Performances also include […]

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June 3, 2023 Metal Milestones

Drums of Doom

1, 2, 3, 4. Anyone with functioning limbs (and lungs and digits, where applicable) can master an instrument. True musicianship nirvana is achieved when you play with virtuosity, creativity, smarts, and beauty. You don’t necessarily need neck-breaking speed and high agility to be the best – – if that were the case, then everyone’s favorite […]

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May 22, 2023 Metal News

Helloween Inducted Into Metal Hall Of Fame By Pat Gesualdo And Alissa White-Gluz Of Arch Enemy

Clifton, NJ, May 22, 2023 –  German power metal band Helloween was Inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame by founder Pat Gesualdo and special guest Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy. The Induction took place on May 20, 2023, in front of thousands of fans at Terminal 5 in New York City. Known as a […]

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May 2, 2023 Metal Milestones

Metal Deliverance

The one with some general predictions about future music access and formats. Records, 8-tracks, reel-to-reels, tapes, CDs, mp3s, streaming – – how will we connect with and listen to our music in the years ahead? How will our Metal be delivered? ** But we arrive now at the point: Heavy Metal has never been a […]

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April 1, 2023 Metal News

Twisted Sister, Lou Gramm, Chris Impellitteri, And Raven To Be Inducted Into Metal Hall Of Fame 

Gala To Feature Performances, Meet & Greet, And All Star Jams  LOS ANGELES, C.A. (January 4, 2022) – The Metal Hall of Fame today announced the induction of 4 Hard Rock and Heavy Metal legends into the Metal Hall of Fame: Twisted Sister, Lou Gramm, Chris Impellitteri, and Raven.   Celebrated guitarist Steve Vai (Whitesnake […]

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March 2, 2023 Metal Milestones

Metal Legacy: The Ballad

Can we turn down the house lights? All right, raise up your phones. . . Gen X and older, you can raise your lighters. It’s time to bring it down a notch and play some Power Ballads. They became requisites for artists of all Metal sub-genres for awhile, from Glam/Hair/Pop to NWOBHM, traditional, and Thrash. […]

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January 30, 2023 Metal Milestones

Lift Up Your Hands in Praise: The 2023 Metal Hall of Fame Gala

The annual Metal Hall of Fame gala has become the Place To Be for Metal fans and VIPs alike. The 2023 ceremony owned the night, burned brightly on its own with no NAMM or any other event going on at the same time. The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA was filled to capacity, with […]

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January 24, 2023 Metal News

Metal Hall Of Fame And Deko Entertainment Release All-Stars Cd/Dvd

The Metal Hall of Fame teams up with Deko Entertainment to release All Stars CD/DVD which includes appearances by Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Tony MacAlpine, Bob Daisley (Ozzy Osbourne), Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater), Chris Impellitteri, Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne), Chris Poland (ex-Megadeth), Geoff Tate (ex-Queensryche), Steve Vai, and Joe […]

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January 15, 2023 Metal Milestones

We Make Sweden Rock!

Europe, Candlemass, Hammerfall, Yngwie Malmsteen    By Rich Catino Yup, just like the Hammerfall song ‘(We Make) Sweden Rock’, Sweden has been rocking since the 80s with great bands. A couple big names that obviously come to mind – Europe, Yngwie Malmsteen, Candlemass. But the Sweden branch of the Heavy Metal tree has many smaller branches. […]

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January 2, 2023 Metal Milestones

Metal Hall of Fame: You Are the Heroes

Neglected, disrespected, shunned, mocked, overlooked, belittled scoffed at; Heavy Metal acts have always been derided by mainstream as second class. In spite of the genius creatives in our ranks, their conventional wisdom sees us as unintelligent, uncouth, unsophisticated, maladjusted, scary. . . Paradoxically, we in the Metal world simultaneously resent and embrace our classification as […]

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December 6, 2022 Metal Milestones

Ronnie James Dio: The Light Inside the Darkness

We’re off to the witch.  Originally misheard as “We’re up to the witch,” ca. 1985, on my Emerson K3661A one-speaker boombox.* I had no inkling of the Satanic panic swirling around Dio’s 2nd solo masterpiece, “The Last in Line;” I was blissfully unaware of the pearl-clutching and hand-wringing over the demonic figure on his album […]

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December 5, 2022 Metal Milestones

Metal Legacy: Metal Demanufacture

Historic Metal Albums: Fear Factory – Demanufacture* The machine is now alive. Alternating clean and harsh vocals are commonplace in Heavy Metal today, but Fear Factory pioneered the technique on their “Soul of a New Machine” debut. They then perfected the hybrid vocal method on their sophomore album, and in the process, created one of […]

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November 22, 2022 Metal News

Twisted Sister To Be Inducted At The 6Th Annual Metal Hall Of Fame Charity Gala

Clifton, N.J. (November 22, 2022) –  ROCAVAKA – The Vaka Thats Rocks! is proud to present: The 6th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Charity Gala, where Rock Legends TWISTED SISTER will be Inducted into the 2023 Metal Hall of Fame. The event will take place January 26, 2023, at the Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA. The classic Twisted Sister lineup of Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, Eddie Ojeda, Mark […]

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November 6, 2022 Metal Milestones

Hats Off to Dokken

Let me take you back to a bygone era. . . .  True story from my long-haired teenage mallrat days, circa 1991: I tried on a fedora-type hat and looked great (if I do say so myself), but let friends talk me out of the purchase. Their fatal shot for my fashion venture was: “Don’t […]

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October 22, 2022 Metal Milestones

German Metal Part 4: Scorpions and Accept

By Rich Catino Scorpions Are In The Metal Hall, So What About Accept? I previously wrote three other articles about the contributions from Germany and all the great hard rock and heavy metal names the country has given us. All of them have yet to be inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame so it […]

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October 13, 2022 Metal Milestones

Heavy Metal’s Future World

And what of the future? What is to be?  I was there at the first Metal Hall of Fame awards gala in 2017, when it was still called the “Hall of Heavy Metal History.” I stood with the other journalists and photographers across from the Last Supper-like long table, awestruck at the pantheon of Metal […]

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September 8, 2022 Metal Milestones

Headbangers Without Borders

“I’m not the next Madonna, I’m the next Iron Maiden” – Lady Gaga* As much as mainstream radio tweekers love to malign Heavy Metal, many of their stars not-so-secretly want to play Hard ball. And many eventually do. Countless musicians across the decades have been drawn to ply their skills in the Hard Rock and […]

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August 6, 2022 Metal Milestones

Terrible Songs from Brilliant Albums, part 2

More Metal trash-talk! Here are the rules of the game:  Single out an absolute masterpiece of an album, a timeless release from a great band that will endure until the end of eternity, full of brilliant songs and priceless treasures. We’re talking desert-island-disc material. Now identify the flaws in these diamonds. Call out the bad […]

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July 3, 2022 Metal Milestones

Terrible Songs from Brilliant Albums, part 1

It’s time to talk  some Metal trash. Here are the rules of the game:  Pre-emptive counterpoint for all you haters: the point of this article is to address that even the greatest artists are still fallible. No one is Rock n’ Roll Midas, turning every single recording to gold. Give songwriters a fucking break. Give […]

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June 14, 2022 Metal News

Voivod To Be Inducted Into Metal Hall Of Fame At Pure Filth Festival 2022

Clifton, NJ, June 14, 2022 – Canadian band Voivod will be Inducted into the 2022 Metal Hall of Fame, at the Pure Filth Festival, June 18, 2022 at Sharkey’s, Liverpool, NY.  Pat Gesualdo, Founder/CEO of the Metal Hall of Fame, and “Metal” Tim Henderson, Founder/CEO of BraveWords, will Induct Voivod on stage during their performance at the festival. […]

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June 9, 2022 Metal Milestones

German Thrash: The Teutonic Big 4: Tankard, Sodom, Destruction, Kreator

By: Rich Catino As part of my Metal Hall Legacy article series, part one and two covered important German Traditional and Power Metal bands who have yet to be inducted: Helloween, Grave Digger, Running Wild, Warlock, Rage, and Sinner. Now for part three on to the Thrash titans Tankard, Sodom, Destruction, and Kreator. All also […]

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June 1, 2022 Metal Milestones

The Greatest Riff of All Time?

What is the greatest riff of all time? “Back in Black?” “For Whom the Bell Tolls?” “The Final Countdown?” “Raining Blood?” “Popcorn” by Hot Butter? “Cowboys From Hell?” “Milano Mosh?” “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)?” “Axel F?” “Super Freak?” Beethoven’s 5th? Every Tony Iommi riff? Every Led Zeppelin song?* Don’t bother responding; the question is subjective […]

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May 3, 2022 Metal Milestones

Always With Me, Always With You

One of the great appeals of the electric guitar is that, in the right hands, each note can have pitch, waver, and modulation – – a wordless vocal, if you will – – like a human singer (Peter Frampton’s talkbox is a different topic for a different discussion). One of the electric guitar’s all-time greatest […]

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April 28, 2022 Metal News

Tony Harnell To Be Inducted Into The Metal Hall Of Fame At M3 Rock Festival

CLIFTON, NJ (APRIL 28, 2022) –  Highly acclaimed metal vocalist Tony Harnell, the voice of Norwegian metal band TNT, will be Inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame on-stage at the M3 Rock Festival, on May 7, 2022, in Columbia, MD.   Tony Harnell rooted his legacy in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal as the vocalist for […]

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April 1, 2022 Metal Milestones

K-Tel: Mixtapes of Metal

Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán Press rewind. Let’s go back to the age when cassettes dominated the world. Yes, those beloved plastic cartridges with their twin internal spools, their microfiche-sized liner notes and shrunken album art folded into cheap, rectangular cases. They filled up our storage racks, the floors and gloveboxes of our cars, and […]

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March 3, 2022 Metal Milestones

W.A.S.P. Can’t Be Tamed

I never saw W.A.S.P. live during their early meat-slinging days.* I loved “The Last Command” and their self-titled debut, but I was just a preteen when those albums were released, young enough to giggle at “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast).” I even convinced a parent to take me to see the god-awful movie, “The Dungeonmaster,” […]

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February 3, 2022 Metal Milestones

Cliff Burton. Bass Solo, Take 1

Hendrix, Lennon, Presley, Cobain, Joplin, Van Zant, Allman, Jones, Scott, Bonham – – Burton. All changed the world. All gone too soon. Thousands of rock stars have died young, but for the names above, their deaths were enormous, paradigm-shifting tragedies, shots heard round the world, felt deeply by fans and non-fans alike for generations to […]

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January 6, 2022 Metal Milestones

Sleep Study: Doom for the 21st Century

Few songs are as shrouded in haze and enigma as Sleep’s epic “Dopesmoker.” Like the planet Jupiter, it’s a massive, dense, swirling giant, with a storm raging at its center. Sixty-three fucking minutes without a key change, most of it chugging along on low guitar and bass strings tuned down to C. It’s a definitive. […]

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December 13, 2021 Metal Milestones

Jon Zazula

Jon Zazula is one of the greatest rockstars of all time.  He’s never electrified any crowds with blistering guitar solos, never driven an arena full of fans to pump their fists in unison, was never featured on t-shirts, magazines, or in posters on teenagers’ walls, but his impact on modern music has been immeasurable. No […]

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December 3, 2021 Metal Milestones

German Metal, Part 2

By Rich Catino If you read my first article titled Power Metal. The Germans, Part 1, I talked about Helloween (the inventors of the genre), Grave Digger, and Running Wild’s place in Heavy Metal’s history, and reasons they should be inducted in the Metal Hall of Fame at some point. For German Metal Part 2 […]

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November 7, 2021 Metal Milestones

Metal and Politics – The Toxic Waltz

Let’s have an argument.  Heavy Metal is outspoken, impassioned, unapologetic, and brutally honest. This applies to the music, the performers, and the fans. There’s plenty of room for intelligence, poetry, nuance and subtlety in the Metal dialogue, as long as there’s truth behind it, but we’re not going to flinch from any harsh reality. As […]

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October 30, 2021 Metal News

Metal Hall Of Fame Launches All Star Charity Single

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10-30-2021 METAL HALL OF FAME LAUNCHES ALL STAR CHARITY SINGLE Metal Hall of Fame All Stars To Help Special Needs Children Isolated by Lockdown CLIFTON, NJ (October 30, 2021) – Top musicians and producers throughout the industry are joining forces with the Metal Hall of Fame to launch the “Metal Hall of Fame […]

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October 16, 2021 Metal Milestones

Power Metal. The Germans, Part 1

By Rich Catino When talking about the importance of the Germans to the history of Heavy Metal, from the 80s Scorpions and Accept were the biggest household names. Even to this day. Well, there are several other bands that should be in the conversation for the Metal Hall of Fame. Helloween achieving success overseas and […]

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October 1, 2021 Metal Milestones

Heavy as Led: An Open Letter to Led Zeppelin

Dear Messrs: Page, Plant, Bonham, and Paul Jones, As this message is not about the first half of “Stairway to Heaven,” I want to address all four of you. I say the following with the deepest respect and reverence:  You’re wrong.  Led Zeppelin is a Heavy Metal band.  I’m responding, of course, to past comments attributed […]

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September 28, 2021 Metal News

A Note From The Founder

Working on the Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala for 2022!! Full speed ahead back to normal in person event!! The page is on it’s way to reaching almost 2 million people, but we have to keep going and promote this page constantly to help keep metal moving forward!! We can’t do it without all […]

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September 8, 2021 Metal Milestones

The New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal: Part 2

SkullFist, White Wizzard, Cauldron, Holy Grail Keeping up with new music, the Metal Today section of the Metal Hall will keep readers informed on all the great new bands and music in heavy metal and hard rock from the present, and past ten or so years. SKULLFIST Skull Fist Ontario Canada the home to Skullfist […]

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September 7, 2021 Metal Milestones

Rime of the Ancient Firebird

My dad was a master of the weird surprise. Not a prankster, per se, just someone who would keep you on your toes. Example: When I was 11, he called me a few days before a Sunday visitation and said, “I got a new stereo. Bring along your favorite tape.” That decision was easy for […]

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August 30, 2021 Metal News

Rockstars Join Metal Hall Of Fame Event

Middletown, NJ, August 30, 2021 – Rockstars and Iconic music industry personalities will take part in a Metal Hall of Fame event on September 12, 2021, 12:00PM at the Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ. The event helps raise funds to bring free services to wounded veterans throughout the New York / New Jersey […]

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August 17, 2021 Metal News

Triumph’S Gil Moore Post Video For 2021 Metal Hall Of Fame Gala Video Inductions

Clifton, NJ, August 17, 2021 – Triumph Drummer Gil Moore has posted a video message on the Metal Hall of Fame Facebook page announcing Triumph’s Induction into the 2021 Metal Fall of Fame Gala Video Stream. Triumph members Gil Moore, Bassist Mike Levine and Guitarist Rik Emmett will be inducted via the Metal Hall of Fame’s Induction Gala Video, which […]

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August 15, 2021 Metal News

Triumph, Legacy Members Of Kiss And Iron Maiden, Along With Stryper, Mark “Weissguy” Wei

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8-10-2021 Contact: 973-263-0420 TRIUMPH, LEGACY MEMBERS OF KISS AND IRON MAIDEN, ALONG WITH STRYPER, MARK “WEISSGUY” WEISS, AND MARTY FRIEDMAN INDUCTED INTO 2021 METAL HALL OF FAME Clifton, NJ, August 10, 2021 – Triumph, legacy members of Kiss and Iron Maiden, along with Stryper, Mark “WEISSGUY” Weiss, and Marty Freidman, […]

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August 10, 2021 Metal Milestones

The New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal: Pt.1

Striker, Enforcer, Night Demon Keeping up with new music, the Metal Today section of the Metal Hall will keep readers informed on all the great new bands and music in heavy metal and hard rock from the present, and past ten or so years. By: Rich Catino ENFORCER Sweden’s Enforcer are one of the first from the now […]

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August 4, 2021 Metal Milestones

Wild, Wild, Wild with Quiet Riot

There are songs that function as time machines for each of us, transporting us back to certain formative places and times in our lives. Quiet Riot’s “Cum On Feel The Noize” never fails to wayback me to 1984, as a freshly-hatched 10-year-old music fanatic. Obsessed with Def Leppard’s “Pyromania” cassette (one of 12 tapes I’d […]

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June 21, 2021 Metal News

Metal Hall Of Fame Launches New Merchandise Line

Clifton, NJ, (June 21, 2021) – The Metal Hall of Fame has announced it’s exciting, new merchandise line!! www.metalhalloffame.org will have the new products for sale. All proceeds go to the Hall’s nonprofit parent organization D.A.D. (Drums and Disabilities), which provides it’s pioneering Drum Therapy® programs for special needs children, adults, and wounded veterans throughout […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Metal Hall Of Fame Gala Now Available On Amazon Prime Television

The Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala – the most important night in metal – is now available exclusively on Amazon Prime TV and can be streamed on Amazon Fire, ROKU, Apple TV and Comcast Xfinity cable TV via the Amazon Prime Video app by its 150 million subscribers. “The 2020 Awards Gala was a […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Metal Hall Of Fame Interview Amy Sciarretto President Of Atom Splitter Pr

The Metal Hall of Fame is honored today to be talking to one of the great influencers in modern Metal: Amy Sciarretto. She’s probably best-known in this world for Atom Splitter PR, which has got great history in the Metal scene, and she’s got a strong writing presence elsewhere. Amy, thanks for taking the time […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Metal Watch Def Leppard The Early Years New Releases From Legacy Bands

The Metal Watch section of the Metal Hall of Fame’s website will focus on the great artists from past eras who’ve helped to shape the Heavy Metal landscape. This will include interviews, news, and features about their classic albums, songs, and careers, as well as news about their new releases and reissues – – with […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Metal Hall Of Fame Adds New Web Content

The Metal Hall Of Fame has announces that Rich Catino (contributor at BraveWords), and Jack Mangan (of Metal Asylum and the “Am I Evil” Diamond Head graphic novel), are joining The Metal Hall Of Fame team. Both will assist in bringing exciting new content to their website and Facebook pages. This includes constantly updated news […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Metal Hall Of Fame Is Expanding Our Voting Categories To Include The Sub Genres Of Metal

The Metal Hall of Fame today announced it has included the additional sub-genres of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock music into its voting categories. The fan vote, an extremely crucial part of the band/artist Induction process into the Metal Hall of Fame, is open on a year round basis. The voting form can be found […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Los Angeles Metal Group Heaven Below To Perform At 2020 Metal Hall Of Fame

The upcoming Metal Hall of Fame continues to shape up to be the best yet as we announce Los Angeles Metal group HEAVEN BELOW to perform at our 2020 Gala. Number 1 in sales at TRADEBIT.com, Top 10 on AMAZON.com’s “New Hard Rock Release” Chart, Top 20 on MUSIC CHOICE – positions usually acquired by […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Cleopatra Records Metal Avenger ‘Thor’ Will Be Attending And Walking The Red Carpet At T

Canada’s Thor, is a bodybuilding champion with 40 titles, actor, screenwriter of multiple films, and vocalist, songwriter with over 20 albums. Thor will be releasing his new album entitled ‘Rising’ in February and will embark on his North American tour in February 2020 Geoff Tate, Don Dokken, Stephen Pearcy, Joe Satriani. Graham Bonnet, Chris Poland, […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Former Ozzy Osbourne Afm Records Artist Guitarist Gus G To Attend And Walk The Red Carpet At This Ye

Gus G currently plays with his Band Firewind and is most known for playing and recording with Ozzy Osbourne, Arch Enemy and Dream Evil. Gus G will also be performing on January 19 2020 at the Whisky a Go Go. Geoff Tate, Don Dokken, Stephen Pearcy, Joe Satriani. Graham Bonnet, Chris Poland, long time Ronnie […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Pat Gesualdo Organizer Of The Metal Hall Of Fame Interviewed By Tnn Radio

Check out our last show of the decade! It features a wide variety of music, and a chat with Pat Gesualdo, Organizer of the Metal Hall of Fame. Click to listen. The 2020 Metal Hall of Fame Gala will be hosted by iconic television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, and co-hosted by Whiskey A GO-GO […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Metal Church To Be Inducted At The 2020 Metal Hall Of Fame Awards Gala

Legendary Seattle metal veterans Metal Church will be inducted into the 2020 Metal Hall Fame, at it’s Annual non-profit charity, The Hall of Heavy Metal History Gala. The Gala will take place on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim. Tickets: 45.00 at the Door / 35.00 in Advance. Pre-Order […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Former Megadeth Guitarist Chris Poland To Be Inducted & Perform At The 2020 Metal Hall Of Fame

Anaheim, CA, December 6, 2019 – Former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland, who recorded on the band’s groundbreaking debut album ‘Killing Is My Business… and Business is Good’ and the iconic platinum thrash release ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying’ will be inducted into the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame. Tickets: 45.00 at the Door / 35.00 […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Joe Satriani To Be Inducted Into The Metal Hall Of Fame Awards

Joe Satriani is a 15-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold over 10 million albums, making him the biggest-selling instrumental rock guitarist of all time. Come and witness Satriani’s induction into the Metal Hall of Fame Awards Gala  Geoff Tate, Don Dokken, Stephen Pearcy, Graham Bonnet, Joe Satriani, Metal Church and Chris Poland in person […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Steve Vai To Be Inducted By Joe Satriani Into The 2020 Metal Hall Of Fame

Anaheim, CA, (December 19, 2019) – Iconic guitarist Steve Vai will be Inducted into the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame by Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani. The non-profit charity Gala takes place on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim, CA. Proceeds go to bringing free therapy services to special needs […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Prong To Perform And Be Inducted Into The 2020 Metal Hall Of Fame

Anaheim, CA, (December 20, 2019) – PRONG to perform and be inducted into the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame. Prong formed in 1986 by vocalist/guitarist ‪Tommy Victor‬ drummer ‪Ted Parsons‬ and bassist Mike Kirkland. To date, Prong has released eleven studio albums, two live records, four EPs, one DVD and two remix records. Award recipients […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

2020 Annual Metal Hall Of Fame Celebrity Charity Gala Will Be Filmed Live And Will Air On Amazon

The METAL HALL OF FAME is pleased to announce that the 2020 Annual Metal Hall of Fame Celebrity Charity Gala will be filmed live and will air on Amazon Prime. Hard rock and heavy metal fans in attendance will be featured in the filming, which will take place on January 15 at the Marriott Delta […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Pat Gesualdo, Metal Hall Of Fame Founder/Ceo, Says, “The 2020 Hall Of Heavy Metal History Gala Is Go

Eddie Trunk To Host 2020 Annual Metal Hall of FameGala Anaheim, CA, October 14, 2019 – Once again, the Metal Hall of Fame will hold it’s Annual non-profit charity event, the Hall of Heavy Metal History Gala, on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim, CA. The Gala will be hosted by iconic television and radio personality Eddie Trunk. The 2020 Hall of Heavy […]

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January 25, 2021 Metal News

Geoff Tate, Don Dokken, Joe Satriani, Stephen Pearcy, And Graham Bonnet To Be Inducted Into 2020 Met

Geoff Tate, Don Dokken, Joe Satriani,Stephen Pearcy, And Graham  Anaheim, CA, (November 21, 2019) – Geoff Tate, Don Dokken, Joe Satriani, Stephen Pearcy, and Graham Bonnet will be inducted into the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame. The 2020 Metal Hall of Fame Gala takes place on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim, CA. Additional Inductions and performances by hard rock and heavy metal Legends, an All-Star Jam, and […]

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July 25, 2019 Metal News

Anthrax Inducted Into The 2019 Metal Hall Of Fame At Heavy Montreal

CLIFTON, NJ (July 25, 2019) –  Legendary New York band Anthrax, a member of The Big Four bands (Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth) that pioneered the speed/thrash metal genre, was Inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame in front of 40,000 people at the Heavy Montreal music festival on Sunday, July 28, 2019. Metal Hall of […]

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January 23, 2019 Metal News

Metallica To Induct Jon And Marsha Zazula At The 2019 Annual Metal Hall Of Fame Gala

CLIFTON, NJ (January 1, 2019) – Metallica will Induct their original record company owners and long time friends Jon and Marsha Zazula into the 2019 Metal Hall of Fame. The Induction will take place at the 2019 Annual Metal Hall of Fame Celebrity Gala on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim, CA. Inductions for Iconic […]

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July 30, 2018 Metal News

Judas Priest To Be Inducted Into 2018 Metal Hall Of Fame

CLIFTON, NJ, (JULY 30, 2018) – Iconic metal band Judas Priest will be Inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame, August 2, 2018 at Wacken Open Air, the world’s largest Heavy Metal festival. The induction will take place at one of the biggest shows of their current ‘Firepower’ world tour. “We have made sure that Judas Priest […]

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