The Metal Voice’sJimmy Kay spoke in length with documentary “Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer” director Wes Orshoski about the making of the film.
Excerpt
When asked Direct Wes Orshoski about Filming James Hetfield
“ I love Hetfield, I have so much admiration for him. Metallica means so much to me. I was lucky enough to interview Hetfield. He is so impressive, so cool and he is so good at it. And I have such regret because I only had 20 minutes for that interview and he was already cool enough to hold up the records for me (Two Di’anno Maiden Albums). I’m sure I was in the half an hour range (when filming). I was nervous, the interview was more important than anything but I knew that Paul never spoke to Hetfield . There were two bands that were with him (Di’Anno) when he was working out that he listened to. It was Depeche Mode and Metallica. Those were the two bands that he listened to everything I filmed him at physical therapy and I knew he loved them. (During the interview with Hetfield) I was going to call him (Di’Anno), I told Paul to stay around the phone around 3 o’clock, I’m going to call you. Cause I wanted to put Hetfield on the phone with him and I so regret not doing that. “
Cleopatra Entertainment recently announced the theatrical release of the documentary film “Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer” into U.K. cinemas at Birmingham’s Mockingbird Cinema. The film will be released on June 9, 2026 for both the digital and home entertainment DVD/Blu-ray formats.
Featuring appearances by James Hetfield (METALLICA),Gene Simmons (KISS),IRON MAIDEN’s Steve Harris and members of EXODUS, SLAYER, MEGADETH, OVERKILL and SEPULTURA, the film chronicles how two IRON MAIDEN fans encounter Di’Anno at the lowest point of his life and then set out to restore his health and relaunch his career.
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to guitarist Andy Larocque (King Diamond) and Pete Blakk (ex King Diamond) guitarist about their debut LEX LEGION album reuniting the King Diamond THEM Conspiracy Line-up.
Larqocque was asked about the musical direction of their debut album and he said, “I would say it’s heavy metal based on the 80s because that’s what we’re kind of born and raised with. Late 70s, early 80s style with a touch of darkness but still I would say is accessible and it’s got a great flow from the very beginning to the end of the songs. It’s not very progressive. I mean, if you compare to what we did back in the old days, this is a little bit more accessible, I would say. And also a lot of melodies which I think is really really important but you know 80ish heavy metal with some really interesting elements you know within the songs of course without being too technical or progressive. “
Lex Legion is a brand-new band comprised of old friends with incredible heavy metal pedigree. Comprising four-fifths of the classic late 1980s King Diamond lineup. Vocalist Nils K. Rue, Pete Blakk, Hal Patino, Andy LaRocque and Mikkey Dee.
Jimmy Kay For The Metal Voice interviewed N.W.O.B.H.M. band Raven at the Piranha Bar in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on April 19, 2026. Watch the interview below.
Excerpt from the chat
When Asked How Ozzy Osbourne brought the band on his first solo tour after hearing their first single on the radio
“Yeah. Friday Rock show. Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, Ozzy wants you to open up on four dates on the Blizzard of Oz tour. Ohh-kay. Right. And, it changed our lives. . That was pretty awesome because I remember them being kind of like they weren’t sure of themselves. They were saying I don’t know if people are are really digging this because the record had just been out not long and they were saying I wonder if we’re going to be able to keep this going and it was to look back on it now cuz it’s like you know like a great record. I don’t understand why they were thinking that way. Legendary it was so good . Lee Kerslake, from Uriah Heap. We got to meet all these people. It was great. What an amazing thing. And they were incredible. And the flip side of that experience for us was the crew who were absolute bastards. Yeah. And treated us like uh slime, you know. Yeah. Like garbage. But yeah, it’s part of that was part of gigging in England at the time. “
When asked about if they plan on doing a new documentary
” Yeah. We actually pretty much worked out the details and we’re starting work on it. There’s going to be a Raven documentary, like a full document. The last one was difficult because it wasn’t funded right and um actually I did a lot of the editing stuff for it and it was such a learning curve for me, if anybody’s ever been involved in something like that, it’s just a huge uh kind of learning curve. And so now this time we have like really professional people involved and we’ll be able to do I think a better job of telling the story cuz it’s quite a tale when you look at all the different angles and things that we’ve been through. And we were just talking earlier about it. A lot of the people who were involved in the beginning of this are gone. You know, even people like Johnny Z who was really uh integral to our success in the States and a lot of the different players are not around anymore. So even just our contemporaries a lot of them are gone. So yeah, so it’s pretty cool that we’re still standing.”
For The Metal Voice the man on the street Kenny Kessel caught up with LIVING COLOUR’s guitarist Vernon Reid in New York.
When asked about a new Living Colour Album and when to expect it “The answer is yes. It’s going to be 2027 at the least. That be the soonest.”
When asked if Frankie Bello was helping them write the new music “Yes.”
When asked about his participation in BLACK SABBATH’s final show (Back to the Beginning) “Tom (Morello) reached out. We didn’t know that it was literally going to be the last Ozzy show. And I got a chance to do War Pigs (And Bark at the Moon) . It was beautiful. And with Rudy Sarzo who’s the best. Yeah. What a wonderful cat. Nice. Nice.”
The Metal Voice spoke METAL CHURCH founder Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof about the bands up and coming album ‘DEAD TO THE RIGHTS’.
Watch the interview below.
When asked if Kurdt Vanderhoof would have ended the last lineup any differently
“Sure they (former band members) think I could have done it differently. That’s on them. We had a big discussion about it, There’s no point. Enough was said. I was clear. The Label lost interest. They (Label) weren’t interested in working with us anymore.” So, I was like, “Well, there’s no point in going on. I’m done. I’m shutting this down. Best of luck to you.” There you go.”
“We got back from Australia. Things got ugly. Things fell apart and a lot of nasty stuff was going on and the record company got done. They said, “No, we’re not doing this (Label).” And I’m like, “I’m not having any fun. I’m done.” So, I shut the band down. Let everybody know, “I’m done. I’m shutting this down. We’re done.” And I also made it very clear that I’m not going to say anything derogatory about anybody. And I hope you do the same because there’s one thing that I can’t stand in the world of social media, you know, he said, she said [ __ ] fight between former band members and blah blah blah. So obviously some people decided to go a different route. That’s on them. That’s fine. But I shut the band down. It (Metal Church) was done. So when it started back up again, um it wasn’t by me starting it up. It was Brian Allen suddenly showed up via Todd LaTorre from Queensryche and he said to (Brain Allan) you should send a couple of demos to Rat Pack (Records) and uh and he did and again this was going on without solicitation at all. So he (Brian Allan) sent it and then next thing I know I got a couple of MP3s of somebody singing a couple of old Metal Church songs and I was like, wow. Well, if I ever put the band together again or anything, this guy would be great. I didn’t know that I had known him before from his Judas Priest cover band from many, many years ago. So then I left it at that. And then because Dave Ellison was working with Rat Pack on the Ellefson/ Soto project, he extended to Rat Pack that well if Metal Church gets back together. I’d love to be involved in that. And I was like wow, cuz Dave and I have known each other forever. And then next, out of the blue, Jeff Plate said he’d come back if we put it back together. So here I’m sitting here going, well, this is awesome. You know, I really had no intentions. I didn’t want to go run auditions and and start looking. I was done. You know, it was like another lineup. Like another singer. Really? Come on. You know, this is stupid. but it just happened. So, I went with it and then as it turns out, we started with Jeff (Plate )and he couldn’t stay because of the Savatage reunion and that really took off, which is great for him. I’m really happy for those guys that they’re doing that. And then within a few days, I was in touch with Ken Mary. So, it just kept moving. So, I’m like, well, I think there’s something more going on then that I intended “I shut it down. .A year and a half, two years later, I put it back together.”
West Coast thrash metal legends Metal Church return with their 13th studio album, Dead To Rights, scheduled for release on April 10 via Rat Pak Records. The album marks the first release from the band’s latest lineup, featuring founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof alongside longtime guitarist Rick Van Zandt, joined by bass icon David Ellefson, powerhouse drummer Ken Mary, and dynamic new vocalist Brian Allen.
From the aggressive opening assault of “Brainwash Game” to the riff-driven finale “My Wrath,” Metal Church prove they still possess the same relentless drive that has earned them fans for over four decades. Tracks such as “Deep Cover Shakedown,” “The Show,” and “Wasted Time” deliver the signature sound the band has long been known for. The album’s first single, “F.A.F.O.,” was released last November, with its accompanying video surpassing 400,000 views to date. Dead To Rights was produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and mixed and mastered by Zeuss at Planet Z.
Track Listing: “Brainwash Game, “F.A.F.O.” “Dead To Rights, “Deep Cover Shakedown,” “Feet To The Fire,” “The Show,” “Heaven Knows (Slip Away),” “No Memory,” “Wasted Time,” “My Wrath”.
–Release Date: April 10, 2026. –Label: Rat Pak Records. –Producer: Kurdt Vanderhoof, with mixing and mastering by Zeuss at Planet-Z Studios.
Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice sat down with Voivod’s singer Denis ‘Snake’ Belanger and his partner and Artist Christine Mcdonald at BBAM Gallery in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on March 1, 2026.
Watch the full interview below.
The discussion revolved around Christine’s art and her stage 4 Cancer struggle and how the band and the fans started a Go fund me to assist with their expenses.
Also mentioned in the conversation was former Voivod Eric Forest (E-force) recent stage 3 cancer struggle and fans rallying for him.
Voivod Singer Snake also was asked if there were any updates about the upcoming Symphonic Voivod album, Snake said ‘It was complicated but it’s going to come out on June 5th (2026) There would be some singles coming out before that, but uh it’s coming out this year on June 5th. And it sounds great.”
He continued,” Francis (Perron Producer) captured the band but the orchestra was complicated to mix. I heard the last version (mix) and it was like, wow, it’s really trippy. You almost forget that there is an orchestra behind you. It feels natural. It’s a perfect blend. Voivod at its best. People said they’ve never experienced such a thing, with the combination of the music and imagery. For me I didn’t see it. I was like so concentrated on doing the right thing. You know it was stressful. No time to F**K up. Usually when you go on stage, ok I missed that part.” Doing this you couldn’t make errors. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Seriously, It was a challenge but I want to do it again and uh we’re going to do it again.”
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 