For The Metal Voice Neil Turbin spoke to Guitarist and solo artist GEORGE THOROGOOD at this years Bowl For Ronnie 2025.
When asked about his level of performing
“ Do it to the best of your ability, whatever that may be. Fear is a great motivator, my friend. You know, because if I don’t play great, they’ll go to somebody else.”
When asked about the song BAD TO THE BONE’s success
“Classic rock radio picked up that song slotted Bad to the Bone right in there next to Stairway to Heaven and Jump Jack Flash. So as that grew and our song got played around those artists, young people growing up were saying, “Oh, this guy Thorogood may be something.”
This year’s BOWL FOR RONNIE Celebrity Bowling Party, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org), has sold out in advance. Thursday, November 13, 2025 at PINZ Bowling Center in Studio City, California, the event once again hosted by television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, who is heard on SiriusXM’s 103 Faction Talk channel.
100% of the net proceeds from the BOWL FOR RONNIE will go to the Dio Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org). Pinz Bowling Center is located at 12655 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, California.
For The Metal Voice Neil Turbin spoke to EXTREME Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt at this years Bowl For Ronnie 2025.
When asked about his recent Grammy nominations and his relationship with Ozzy:
“It’s nice (Grammy nomination), but you know what? I wasn’t there for that. I was there to pay tribute to Sabbath and Ozzy, and that’s what we did.”
“I have known Ozzy for a bit. He asked me to join his band in the in the 90s and I said no. And that that’s the last thing he (Ozzy) said to me. He goes, YOU PRICK , you said no to me.”
This year’s BOWL FOR RONNIE Celebrity Bowling Party, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org), has sold out in advance. Thursday, November 13, 2025 at PINZ Bowling Center in Studio City, California, the event once again hosted by television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, who is heard on SiriusXM’s 103 Faction Talk channel.
100% of the net proceeds from the BOWL FOR RONNIE will go to the Dio Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org). Pinz Bowling Center is located at 12655 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, California.
For The Metal VoiceNeil Turbin spoke to Black Sabbath Bassist Geezer Butler at this years Bowl For Ronnie 2025. Geezer was asked if there were any new music planned for Both Ronnie James Dio and Ozzy before their passings.
When asked if there were any plans for new music with Ozzy before passing
“No, it’s just a shame that he went so quickly after it cuz we were all planning on getting together for Christmas and like reflecting back on everything.”
When asked if there were any plans for new music with Ronnie James Dio before passing
“We were thinking about it yeah, yeah. Ronnie was going to finish his trilogy (Magica) We were going to do a tour with Ozzy. Then after that we’re going to get together and do like Heaven and Hell parts or whatever. But you know, you can’t plan these things.”
This year’s BOWL FOR RONNIE Celebrity Bowling Party, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org), has sold out in advance. Thursday, November 13, 2025 at PINZ Bowling Center in Studio City, California, the event once again hosted by television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, who is heard on SiriusXM’s 103 Faction Talk channel.
100% of the net proceeds from the BOWL FOR RONNIE will go to the Dio Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org). Pinz Bowling Center is located at 12655 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, California.
The Metal Voice recently spoke to Styx‘s Singer and solo artist Lawrence Gowan.
Gowan talked about Styx’s upcoming residency in Las Vegas on January 23-31, 2026; his upcoming Quebec (Canada) solo tour and gave his thoughts on the upcoming Rush Comeback with new drummer.
The Metal Voice asked Gowan about the Rush’s comeback tour in 2026 with new drummer Anika Niles he said,”
I’m so happy. Alex played on my fourth album The Lost Brotherhood . He was the guitarist on that one along with others. I don’t know them (Rush) closely, but I would meet with them every couple of times a year, usually at the office (both being managed by Ray Daniels). I’ve spoken with all three of them on several occasions. Uh obviously Alex (Lifeson) the most, Geddy (Lee) would be second. I only spoke with Neil (Peart) maybe twice that I can recall. They are really great people. I see them that way and so do millions around the world. They’re so devoted to music and devoted to their band. What they were able to accomplish and that to see them just sit there on the shelf with their awards it’s not right? They should be out there playing. I saw a thing where Alex said that Paul McCartney came up to him when they were playing the tribute concert to Taylor Hawkins in England and McCartney said, you guys aren’t playing anymore or something like that? He goes, Why not?
Gowan continued,” The huge part of a musician’s life is playing in front of people. It’s the biggest part quite honestly in my opinion. And so to see them coming back with the drummer they have, Anika Nilles, is a phenomenal, a tremendous choice. They seem to just make the right choice all the time. I had to message Hugh Syme because he did a lot of artwork for my records and (Rush’s). What a wonderful logo that he came up with with the stop lights and one bird having left the wire. Everything about it is just so artistically well done. So, uh, I can’t wait to see that they’re back in the back in the arena.”
Tour dates (Las Vegas residency) Jan 23, 2026 — The Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas, NV Jan 24, 2026 — The Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas, NV Jan 28, 2026 — The Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas, NV Jan 30, 2026 — The Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas, NV Jan 31, 2026 — The Venetian Theatre, Las Vegas, NV All shows are scheduled for 8:30 p.m. local time.
Gowan Tour
November 19, 2025 Lac Brome, Québec, Canada November 20, 2025 Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada November 21, 2025 L’Assomption, Québec, Canada November 22, 2025 Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada T November 23, 2025 Québec, Québec, Canada November 25, 2025 Montreal, Québec, Canada MTELUS Tickets November 26, 2025 Sainte-Agathe, Québec, Canada November 27, 2025 Drummondville, Québec, Canada Drummondville November 28, 2025 Gatineau, Québec, Canada Salle Odyssée November 29, 2025 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Massey Hall
The Metal Voice recently spoke to former Dio Guitarist Tracy G about his time in the band writing, recording and performing the albums Strange Highways and Angry Machines.
Tracy G was asked on how Ronnie’s passing affected him even though they had not spoken since his departure in 1999
”I hadn’t talked to him for 10 years. 1999 I left. It was 2010 when I think he passed or got sick or something and I hadn’t talked to him at all. So, I wasn’t really that close to him (at the time). And when I was with him, I was his friend, but it was like a business partnership. Of course, it’s devastating and it’s a huge loss because that’s a huge talent right there. He was such a hardworking guy. On the road he never even missed a show even when he got a cold or got sick, he just sang. Maybe not the same notes he just he sang different notes that he could hit. It’s tough on a singer when they get sick. I got sick many times, but I don’t sing, you know. It’s different. But he was a working madman. Um, first one at practice, last one at practice, he cared. He cared how the guitar sounded. He cared how the snare drum sounded. Major respect to Ronnie. He was one of the greatest singers that there could be for any style of music. I mean does it get any better than that? I have been struggling my whole life till I’m like 30 years old trying to find a decent singer for me. I always needed a better singer. You know. But then I’m in a band with Ronnie James De I mean I hit the musical lotto.
Tracy Grijalva, known as Tracy G, is a guitarist best known for his time with Dio from 1993 to 1999. He left the band when Dio brought back guitarist Craig Goldy and they wanted him to switch to only Rhythm guitar.
Tracy G appeared on –Strange Highways (1993) –Angry Machines (1996) –Inferno: Last in Live (1998) –Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993
Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Blind Guardian singer Hansi Kürsch about the bands upcoming tour and new music.
Watch the interview below.
Legendary German power metal band BLIND GUARDIAN has announced its long-awaited return to North America with a headlining tour set for fall 2025. The band will perform across the United States and Canada, bringing their celebrated album “Somewhere Far Beyond” to life on stage. The band decided to re-record Somewhere Far Beyond while preparing for its tour.
The tour will kick off on November 19 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will make stops in major markets, including New York, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles and more, before concluding on December 13 in Los Angeles, CA, at The Wiltern.
After their North American “Somewhere Far Beyond” concept tour (late 2025), Blind Guardian plans to take a break to focus on songwriting and family life. Hansi told THE METAL VOICE we will spend 2026 composing and aim to release a new album in early 2027, followed by another tour later that year. He continued “The band wants to take their time rather than rush we go for quality. Give us 2026 to compose songs. Give us the beginning of 2027 for maybe finishing the production and releasing the album, and then another tour hopefully at the end of 2027.”
“There won’t be a new album coming out after the tour directly because we have to compose the album. We will take that momentum after North America and do the break, which everyone in the band is desperately looking for. We traveled around the world twice, I think, and it is about time now to really keep our focus on songwriting and on family life. We all want that privacy back for a while, not for too long, but I think give us a year, maybe one and a half, and then you’ll have your new album As said, I believe it’s in the tradition of what Blind Guardian stands for and maybe has a bit of the more melodic, old-fashioned style, but I cannot promise it. It’s just a feeling.”
When asked about the musical direction of their future album. Hansi explained that after the massive orchestral scope of Legacy of the Dark Lands, they felt they had gone “as big as we can go. ”The next record will likely “strip things down” and focus more on classic, melodic, and old-fashioned Blind Guardian style, more direct and energetic, less orchestral. He called The God Machine (2022) a “hybrid” that bridges their early sound with modern production, and said the new album will probably continue that trajectory, more straightforward, but still epic. “”However, he admitted that once the band gets into the studio, the creative direction often evolves naturally: “We don’t have that much control where the journey finally leads us.”
BLIND GUARDIAN 2025 tour dates with ENSIFERUM and SEVEN KINGDOMS:
Nov. 19 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live Nov. 20 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum Nov. 21 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade Nov. 22 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground Nov. 24 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Nov. 25 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza Nov. 26 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium Nov. 28 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS Nov. 29 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre Nov. 30 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora Theater Dec. 02 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre Dec. 03 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater Dec. 05 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre Dec. 07 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot Dec. 09 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Market Dec. 10 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater Dec. 12 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre Dec. 13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
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