It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to a legendary figure in the rock and metal music scene, drummer Steve Riley.

His contributions to the genre, especially during his time with W.A.S.P. and L.A. Guns, have left an indelible mark on the history of rock music. Riley's tenure with W.A.S.P. from 1984 to 1987 was marked by his exceptional drumming skills and his ability to infuse energy into the band's performances. His powerful beats added a unique dimension to W.A.S.P.'s music, contributing significantly to the band's identity during that period. Following his time with W.A.S.P., Riley embarked on a remarkable journey with L.A. Guns. For nearly three decades, from 1987 to 2016, he was the backbone of the band, providing the rhythmic foundation for their iconic sound. His dedication and passion for music were evident in every beat, making him an integral part of L.A. Guns' legacy.

Riley passed away at 67 years old. Riley's death was confirmed to Blabbermouth by his son Cole, who said that Steve passed away this past Tuesday, October 24.

The Riley family has released the following statement: "We are devastated to share that Steve Riley has passed away at the age of 67. Steve had been battling a severe case of pneumonia for several weeks, and on Tuesday, Oct. 24, succumbed to the illness. His wife Mary Louise and son Cole were by his side in his final moments. Steve spent the past five decades building up a rich music legacy, touring the world countless times, selling millions of records, sharing the stage with incredible bandmates and bringing joy to fans across the globe. His style was unmatched, influenced by the greats like Buddy Rich, Ginger Baker and John Bonham, and his passion for the craft was evident until the very end. But Steve's greatest legacy was his role as a loving husband and caring father. At home, he was more than just a rocker — he was a Boston sports fanatic, a World War II buff and an avid reader. As much as he loved being on the road, nothing brought him more joy than coming home to his family. Steve is survived by his wife and son, as well as his brothers Michael and Daniel".

Our thoughts and worries are with Steve Riley's family and friends. Rest in Peace.

"Now And Then" will be released worldwide at 2 p.m. GMT / 10 a.m. EDT / 7 a.m. PDT on Thursday, November 2, 2023 by Apple Corps Ltd./ Capitol/UMe. But what is "Now and Then"? It is the last The Beatles song, which is written and sung by John Lennon, developed and worked on by Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, and now finally finished by Paul and Ringo over four decades later.

The double A-side single pairs the last BEATLES song with the first: the band's 1962 debut U.K. single "Love Me Do", a truly fitting full-circle counterpart to "Now And Then". Both songs are mixed in stereo and Dolby Atmos, and the release features original cover art by renowned artist Ed Ruscha. The new music video for "Now And Then" will debut on Friday, November 3. More details including global premiere plans will be announced. 

A 12-minute "Now And Then - The Last Beatles Song" documentary film, written and directed by Oliver Murray, will debut on November 1, 2023.

The story of "Now And Then" begins in the late 1970s, when John recorded a demo with vocals and piano at his home in New York's Dakota Building. In 1994, his wife, Yoko Ono Lennon, gave the recording to Paul, George and Ringo, along with John's demos for "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love", which were both completed as new BEATLES songs and respectively released as singles in 1995 and 1996, as part of THE BEATLES "Anthology" project. At the same time, Paul, George and Ringo also recorded new parts and completed a rough mix for "Now And Then" with producer Jeff Lynne. At that point, technological limitations prevented John's vocals and piano from being separated to achieve the clear, unclouded mix needed to finish the song. "Now And Then" was shelved, with a hope that one day it would be revisited.

Cut to 2021, and the release of "The Beatles: Get Back" docuseries, directed by Peter Jackson, which astonished viewers with its award-winning film and audio restoration. Using WingNut Films' MAL audio technology, Jackson's team had de-mixed the film's mono soundtrack, managing to isolate instruments and vocals, and all the individual voices within THE BEATLES' conversations. This achievement opened the way to 2022's new mix of "Revolver", sourced directly from the four-track master tapes. This led on to a question: what could now be done with the "Now And Then" demo? Peter Jackson and his sound team, led by Emile De La Rey, applied the same technique to John's original home recording, preserving the clarity and integrity of his original vocal performance by separating it from the piano.

In 2022, Paul and Ringo set about completing the song. Besides John's vocal, "Now And Then" includes electric and acoustic guitar recorded in 1995 by George, Ringo's new drum part, and bass, guitar and piano from Paul, which matches John's original playing. Paul added a slide guitar solo inspired by George; he and Ringo also contributed backing vocals to the chorus.

In Los Angeles, Paul oversaw a Capitol Studios recording session for the song's wistful, quintessentially BEATLES string arrangement, written by Giles Martin, Paul and Ben Foster. Paul and Giles also added one last, wonderfully subtle touch: backing vocals from the original recordings of "Here, There And Everywhere", "Eleanor Rigby" and "Because", woven into the new song using the techniques perfected during the making of the "Love" show and album. The finished track was produced by Paul and Giles, and mixed by Spike Stent.

The new Trapeze single and video "Breakdown" is released today, October 27th, 2023.

"Breakdown" is a cracking hard rock statement and the first single from "Lost Tapes Vol.1", an album full of previously unreleased TRAPEZE song gems from Tom Galley's private archive - Great songs finally seeing the light of day! - The song is from the band's last phase in the 90s and still sounds tremendously fresh and contemporary today. The lead vocals are by Glenn Hughes, who delivers a vocal masterpiece on "Breakdown".

"LOST TAPES VOL.1" will be released on November 24th on Metalville Records.

The tracks on "Lost Tapes Vol.1" are a collection of previously unreleased TRAPEZE songs compiled by Tom Galley, brother of TRAPEZE founding member Mel Galley. The tracks are from various recording sessions, starting in the early 70s until the band's break-up in the 90s.

The tracks not only prove how good the various TRAPEZE line-ups were, but also capture the passion, energy and enthusiasm in the making of the songs themselves.

"Lost Tapes Vol. 1" contains a total of 14 songs that are just as first-class as the well-known tracks on the band's albums. And some of these tracks will probably become classics in the same way. "Lost Tapes Vol. 1" offers the opportunity to hear TRAPEZE with all its original energy, and shows that there was much more untapped potential lying dormant between the musicians involved than had previously been assumed.

TRAPEZE never stood still over the years. If time and circumstances had been different, we can well imagine the heights this unique band could have reached.

TRACK LISTING

Cool Water

Lover

Breakdown

Don't Let Them Push You

Destiny

Lights Of Tokyo

So In Love

Bad Kid From School

Catching Up On You

Do You Understand

Enough Is Enough

You've Got It

Who Do You Run To

Going Home

Dream Theater have announced the return of drummer Mike Portnoy! 

Portnoy will reunite with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung — the trio formed the band at the Berklee College Of Music in 1985 — along with vocalist James LaBrie and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. DREAM THEATER will be going into the studio to work on their 16th studio album and the first with Portnoy since "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" (2009). Right below you can read all the comments by the protagonists.

Mike Mangini: "I understand DREAM THEATER's decision to get Mike Portnoy back at this time. As was said from Day 1, my place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. I was to play the drums in order to help the band carry on. My main role of keeping our live show working tightly on a nightly basis was an intense and rewarding experience. Thankfully, I got to experience playing music with these iconic musicians, as well as some fun times laced with humor. I also really enjoyed spending lots of time with the crew. And then there's the Grammy win, which was amazingly satisfying. To the fans: thank you so much for being amazing to me. I cherish the pictures I have of you all losing your minds and having fun. Finally, I really love the band, crew and management and wish them and the entire organization all the best".

John Petrucci: "Mike Mangini's drumming is otherworldly and I'm extremely grateful for the time he spent with us in DREAM THEATER. I'm very proud of all the amazing music we made together that culminated in our first Grammy win last year and the countless magical moments that we've shared on stage over the past 13 years. I wish him all the best of success in his future musical endeavors. I'm incredibly excited to welcome Mike Portnoy back into DREAM THEATER! As an original founding member, longtime friend and incredibly talented and creative drummer, I know that his return will bring a renewed spirit, passion and energy into DT that all of us, including our fans, will joyfully welcome. I can't wait to roll up our sleeves and get back into the studio together!".

John Myung: "It's great to be back true to form with our original drummer Mike Portnoy. We started playing together as MAJESTY almost 40 years ago and I am excited to see what this next phase of DREAM THEATER creates for the future. I wish nothing but the best for Mike Mangini for all the blood, sweat and tears he put into DT during his 13-year tenure with the band".

James LaBrie: "Having Mike Mangini with us all these years has been, quite simply, a terrific ride. He is one of the most amazing and naturally gifted drummers I have had the pleasure of working with. Thank you, Mike. Life is a very strange ride and I guess that's what makes it all the more interesting and forever engaging. Having Mike Portnoy back in the band is exactly where we and things should be. Things have a way of going full circle and in this case, it makes perfect sense. I am excited with the prospects of this classic DT lineup being reunited. I can say with absolute confidence this will be the final incarnation of DT with many chapters still to be written well into our future. Onward and upward guys!! Welcome back MP."

Jordan Rudess says: "Mike Mangini is one of the most exceptional drummers on earth and I feel privileged that we got to create a whole body of work with him. I will always be grateful for the time we shared in the DREAM THEATER Universe. We are so excited to reunite the core DREAM THEATER family. There is a resonance of spirit and vision that is unique and goes beyond words within our relationship with Mike Portnoy. On the stage and off there is no denying the magic that happens when we are together. I'm thankful we have the opportunity to work together again as DREAM THEATER and am looking forward to sharing our excitement and passion with our amazing fans for a long time to come".

And finally, Mike Portnoy: "I am overwhelmed with joy to be returning home and reuniting with my brothers! There is so much shared history between us all…so many memories, so much music…to think we're coming up on 40 years since this journey began! The idea of creating new music together is so exciting and I absolutely cannot wait to hit the road and get to play live for a whole new generation of fans that weren't ever able to see this lineup before…There's no place like home!!".