News

Greg Kihn, pop icon, DJ and novelist, has died at the age of 75. Kihn was born in Baltimore in 1949 and, like plenty of others from his generation, decided to become a musician. The turning point came the day he watched The Ed Sullivan…

John Mayall, a blues icon, passed away on 7/22/2024 at the age of 91! John Mayall is widely seen as the architect of blues rock and one of the key figures who carried American (especially Chicago) blues over to Europe through his work.…

Pavle Kavec has passed away, one of the central figures from the pioneering days of Slovenian and Yugoslav rock music. He was one of Slovenia's most influential guitarists, and through his mentoring he helped many talented young Slovenian…

Mexican death grind outfit Brujeria has announced that its vocalist Ciriaco "Pinche Peach" Quezada (center of the photo) has died. Juan Brujo of the band posted the following statement on social media: "I never thought I'd have to do…

Horst Franz (Horst Odermatt), the organizer of the legendary Bang Your Head!!! festival, which took place every year in the German town of Balingen, has died at the age of 60. For many years (since 2006, to be exact), Horst also organized…

C. J. Snare (Carl Jeffrey Snare), vocalist of the cult American glam metal band Firehouse, passed away suddenly at home on Friday evening, April 5, 2024. He was just 64 years old. As you may have already heard, after C. J. successfully…

PART 2 (a preview of the official album release, with an interview recap) A new story from Pelhan, their second. A new chapter built from a decade of experience and two years of polishing ideas. The result of personal growth,…

T.M. Stevens, the legendary bassist and solo artist, passed away on March 10, 2024, in his 73rd year, after a long battle with illness. Thomas Michael Stevens was born in New York City. He first enrolled to study biology, but then a…

Aco Rabornik, one of the most important names in Slovenian album production, has passed away at the age of 77. Over the course of his career, working out of his Tivoli studio, he produced and recorded more than 500 albums. They…

Vitalij Kuprij, the respected Ukrainian-American keyboardist, producer and music teacher, passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at the age of 49. The sad news was shared by Kuprij's musical colleague Lars Eric Mattsson, the Finnish…

James Kottak, former Scorpions and Kingdom Come drummer, has died at the age of 62. The news was confirmed on Scorpions' official social media accounts. The cause of death is unknown. Kottak was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1962,…

Tony Clarkin, guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of beloved British hard and art rock veterans Magnum, has passed away at the age of 77. The sad news was confirmed by Clarkin's daughter and first announced on Magnum's official social…

Myles Goodwyn, guitarist, vocalist, founder and central figure of Canadian rock icons April Wine, died on December 3, 2023, in Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada), in his 76th year. His death was confirmed by his publicist Eric Alper, though the…

Shane MacGowan, vocalist of the iconic punks The Pogues, passed away today, 11/30/2023, at the age of 66. The news of the legendary singer's death was confirmed on Instagram by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke (you can find the original…

On 11/17/2023, Dream Theater posted the sad news on their official FaceBook profile that their former singer Charlie Dominici (in the middle of the photo) has passed away. Here's what they wrote: "We are deeply saddened by the shocking…

Steve Riley, former drummer of L.A. Guns and W.A.S.P., passed away on October 24, 2023, at the age of 67. Riley reportedly struggled with health problems in recent years. After a few weeks battling a severe case of pneumonia, he ended…

David Šuligoj, longtime bassist of Nova Gorica art and pop rock legends Avtomobili, has passed away. The band announced it today on their official Facebook profile (below). No further details about this shocking, painful and devastating…

Chris Overland, founding member and guitarist of British AOR legends FM, has passed away. The band announced the news two days ago (August 25, 2023) on their official Facebook profile (you'll find the original post below). In the summer…

Bernie Marsden, the beloved (former) guitarist of hard rock giants Whitesnake, who also made a name for himself with a string of highly acclaimed solo albums, has died at the age of 72. The news was confirmed in a special statement by…

Andy Rourke, bassist of 80s alternative rock sensation The Smiths, has died at the age of 59. The sad news of his death was first made public by his The Smiths bandmate and guitarist Johnny Marr, who posted the following on social…

Fair Warning, the cult German hard rockers, announced the sad news three days ago that their guitarist Helge Engelke has passed away. He was 61 years old. "With great sadness and heavy hearts, we have to let you know that our dear…

Jim Gordon, the renowned American session drummer who played with Derek And The Dominoes, among others, and who is also known for landing in prison in the early eighties for murdering his mother, has died at the age of 77. According to…

Gary Rossington, the last original member of southern rock icons Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died at the age of 71. The band confirmed the news on their official Facebook page (the original post is below). Gary Rossington was born in…

Wayne Shorter, 12-time Grammy winner, saxophonist and composer who spent more than half a century crafting the unique sound of modern jazz, died on Monday, March 2, in Los Angeles. Shorter was 89 years old. Shorter is considered one of…

Former Running Wild guitarist Majk Moti (August 29, 1957 - February 16, 2023) has passed away at the age of 66. Running Wild announced the news of his death on February 18, 2023, on their official FaceBook profile (you can check it out…

Tom Verlaine, vocalist and guitarist of New York proto-punk / art-punk rock legends Television, has passed away after a short illness. He was 73 years old. The news of his death was first shared by Patti Smith's daughter Jesse: “He died…

David Crosby, American singer-songwriter and founding member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, has died at the age of 81. The news was first shared with the public by his wife Jan Dance, who wrote: "It is with immense…

Jeff Beck, the legendary British guitarist, has died at the age of 78. According to an official statement posted on Beck's social media accounts by family members, the musician passed away after a short battle with bacterial meningitis. …

Genesis: The Story of a Legendary Band on the 55th Anniversary of Their Formation Genesis in 1975, lineup: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett & Mike Rutherford (image credit: Redferns) The legendary English…

Larry 'L.A.' Greene has passed away. The vocalist was best known for his work with AOR bands Fortune and Harlan Cage, and he also made his mark as a songwriter and performer on a string of movie soundtracks, including "Top Gun", "Over the…

Massimo Savić, one of the most respected and recognizable vocalists of the Croatian rock and pop scene, and one of those voices that left a permanent mark on the face of the wider regional music scene, has died at the age of 61 after a…

Christine McVie, legendary musician and member of the iconic Fleetwood Mac, has passed away at the age of 79. At the bottom of this post you'll find the official statement on her death, which was published on her official Facebook page on…

Keith Levene, founding member and guitarist of The Clash and Public Image Ltd, has died at the age of 65. Ketih Levene was born in North London in 1957, and while still a teenager he became obsessed with Yes guitarist Steve…

Garry Roberts, founding member and lead guitarist of Irish punk and new wave legends The Boomtown Rats, has died at the age of 72. The news was first announced by The Boomtown Rats themselves on social media: "It is with great sadness…

Nik Turner, the British musician best known for his many years with space rock pioneers Hawkwind, has passed away at the age of 82. Nik Turner, full name Nicholas Robert Turner, played sax and flute during his long stint with Hawkwind,…

Dan McCafferty, an original member of Scottish rock legends Nazareth, has died at the age of 77. The sad news was first broken to the rock world by his friend and Nazareth bandmate, bassist Pete Agnew, who wrote the following on…

On October 31, 2022, Marko Herak passed away. He was an original founding member and the bassist of Slovenian heavy metal icons Pomaranča. Marko Herak joined the band in 1979 at the invitation of guitarist Mijo Popović. Popović, who…

Kornelije Kovač, the legendary Serbian composer, passed away yesterday, September 13, 2022, at the age of 81. After his health began to fail, the famed music producer, composer, arranger and, first and foremost, pianist was taken to…

David Andersson, guitarist for Swedish melodic death metallers Soilwork and AOR revivalists The Night Flight Orchestra, who had recently joined the Australian death metal outfit Gang Of Old Ladies (he managed to record and release their…

Franc Teropšič, original drummer of Pomaranča, the central Slovenian heavy metal band of the eighties, has passed away. At the turn of the seventies into the eighties, in 1979 to be exact, guitarist Mijo Popović and vocalist Zlatko…

Steve Grimmett, singer of the cult N.W.O.B.H.M. band Grim Reaper, has died at the age of 63. The news was first confirmed on social media by his brother Mark, who wrote yesterday, 8/15/2022: "I really don't know where to start, so…

Olivia Newton-John, the singer and actress who won four Grammys over her career, has died at the age of 73 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was best known for playing Sandy in the iconic movie "Grease". Newton-John was first…

Nicky Moore, the cult vocalist who stepped in for defector Bruce Dickinson in N.W.O.B.H.M. outfit Samson in 1981 - the latter, as myth and legend have it, went on to join Iron Maiden - has passed away at the age of 75. Nicky Moore, who…

Manny Charlton, co-founder and original guitarist of Scottish rock legends Nazareth, has passed away at the age of 81. The news was first shared publicly by his son Jimmy Charlton. The cause of death is not known. Charlton was born in…

Alan White, drummer of the British prog rock giants Yes, has died at the age of 72. The news was confirmed by the drummer's wife Gigi in a special statement to the public: "Alan White, my beloved husband, our father and grandfather,…

Andy Fletcher, keyboardist and co-founder of synth pop and new wave giants Depeche Mode, known to all the band's fans as "Fletch", has died at the age of 60. Depeche Mode confirmed the news today through their social media channels,…

Procol Harum's singer, pianist and co-founder of the cult proto-prog rock outfit Procol Harum, has passed away at the age of 77. The band confirmed it in an official statement: "With deep regret, we must confirm the death of Gary Brooker,…

Marko Brecelj has died at the age of 70 (in his 71st year), one of the sharpest, wittiest and most sparkling Slovenian musical artists. In his ideas and expression he was most often "blood brothers" with a provocative avant-garde art pole,…

Aki Rahimovski, the beloved frontman of Croatian rock giants Parni Valjak, passed away on January 22, 2022, in a hospital in Novo mesto. He was 66 years old. The band announced the news on their official Facebook profile with a short…

Meat Loaf, one of the most beloved and commercially successful hard rock and heavy metal singers, who was also a film actor among other things, has died at the age of 74. The news was announced by his agent, who wrote the following in an…

Burke Shelley, founder, frontman, singer and bassist of the cult Welsh rockers Budgie, has died at the age of 71. The sad news was confirmed by Shelley's daughter Ela Shelley, who posted the following yesterday on the band's official…

A few days ago, the Slovenian rock and metal community lost Sašo Banovič, one of the key figures of the Postojna area, who through his commitment, enthusiasm, fire and constant involvement in rock activism left an indelible mark not only…

Johnny Solinger, who fronted American glam metal legends Skid Row from 1999 to 2015, passed away yesterday, June 26, 2021, at the age of 56. The cause of death was liver failure. Johnny Solinger, full name John Preston Solinger, born…

On February 12, 1981, Rush released their eighth studio album, "Moving Pictures" (RockLine review). It's one of the most important albums in the band's history, if not the most important, though fans can never quite agree on that when they…

In 1981, Iron Maiden were slowly closing in on the point of a massive change that would hit them at the end of March 1982. But even in the stretch right before that career turning point, things didn't go without some serious shake-ups, and…

David Bowie (January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016), the eternal musical chameleon and sonic alien, who blasted into space in his songs with Major Tom, sold the world, went looking for life on Mars with Hunky Dory, caught post-apocalyptic…

In mid-June 1970, Uriah Heep released their studio debut »Very ‘eavy … Very ‘umble« in the UK (RockLine review) and laid the groundwork for a musical artistry all their own. It didn't take more albums than their contemporaries needed to…

Five years have flown by in a flash. Five years since we lost one of the greatest musical visionaries in the history of rock 'n' roll – the brilliant mind of David Bowie. Fifty years ago this November, the man put out his third studio…

In the "immodest notes" below, we're serving up a bouquet of albums that dropped last year and, in the opinion of the RockLine crew, left the biggest mark. 2020 delivered a seriously rich harvest of top-notch music, which made choosing…

This RockLine piece is all about albums by Slovenian artists that dropped last year and are so good they deserve a special shout-out. But still... Not every album by a Slovenian artist released last year actually made it to our…

On December 28, 2020, it was five years since the world lost its first rock icon. That was Ian Fraser Kilmister, known to everyone as Lemmy. Even though he never tried to be, or even wanted to be. He was a musician who actually lived…

Emerson, Lake & Palmer were the first true supergroup in music history. The band was formed in London in April 1970, with a lineup built around keyboardist Keith Emerson, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Greg Lake, and drummer Carl…

King Crimson put out not one but two albums in 1970. The second one, "Lizard" (RockLine review), was recorded by a completely different lineup, one that, just like the patched-together crew behind its predecessor, was doomed to a short…

»With »Trespass«, their first prog record, the band took a massive step forward from the previous album and showed that, despite the members' youth, they were one of the most mature groups of the day. Or rather: the music they started…

Soon after forming in the second half of the sixties, Van Der Graaf Generator became a band that pushed musical boundaries with its progressive vision and unbridled pioneering swagger, throwing the doors wide open for the progressive rock…

It was the first year of the new millennium when Iron Maiden dropped their comeback album with the re-recruited "deserter" Bruce Dickinson. It was an album of salvation, an album of relief, an album that landed at the right time in the…

For Saxon, 1980 was the most important year of the band's career. That February, they dropped the album »Wheels of Steel« and took the torch from a freshly born phalanx of bands serving up, for the time, a combination of insanely fast and…

What is there left to say about an album that's already had everything said about it? Did anyone ever even need to say anything about an album like this? A fast 40 years have gone by since it came out in early November 1980. Even a passing…

Prog rock giants Jethro Tull, led by their unbridled, energetic, lucid, sarcastic and charismatic frontman Ian Anderson, rock's most famous flautist, who has always known how to poke at social sore spots with his one-of-a-kind lyrics and…

Iron Maiden released the live album »Live After Death« 35 years ago. It was mid-October of that long-gone year. The story behind it is a feat on the level of the biblical exploits of gray-bearded Moses. A story about Eddie the mummy…

“Atom Heart Mother,” Pink Floyd's fifth studio album overall, is considered one of the most overlooked records of their entire career, even though the band used it to put out something completely different from its predecessor »Ummagumma«…

After »Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son«, the hugely successful tour that followed its release – with the band pushing their stagecraft even further, expanding and enriching all the sets and scenery to serve up even more spectacular shows –…

1969 went down as the year Led Zeppelin's rock'n'roll supernova exploded, and it was impossible to look away. All of a sudden, this new star was blazing at full intensity. That year they built an incredible launch ramp and catapulted…

This September marked 40 years since the release of Ozzy's debut, "Blizzard of Ozz." It's the album that saved the singer's music career. To get a rough picture of how we ended up with the album that marked Ozzy's final step into a solo…

1970 was a straight-up breakthrough year for Black Sabbath, in every sense of the word. In February they released their studio debut »Black Sabbath« (RockLine review), and by the end of the year they had two studio albums in the bag. On 18…

This is the story of the album with which Judas Priest redefined their heavy metal and caught the trends of the moment. In 1990, Judas Priest were seen as veterans, heavy metal elder statesmen of sorts. Painkiller put these enthroned…

“By the time of »Headless Cross«, Iommi had finally found a lineup formula that let him sleep a little easier. In that relaxed atmosphere, the same crew of musicians recorded an even stronger album, “Tyr”, which still failed to win over the…

“»Empire«, which was produced once again by Peter Collins, just like »Operation: Mindcrime« (with Jim Barton handling engineering duties) in Vancouver, Canada, remains a timeless musical achievement even after 30 years, embodying the…

In early 1980, AC/DC found themselves in a seriously unenviable position. The Grim Reaper tapped their enigmatic vocalist Bon Scott on the shoulder and invited him along. For good. On 19 February 1980, he was found dead in the early…

""Squeezed between two more successful Jethro Tull albums and unfairly overlooked in the band's vast discography, the excellent "Benefit" nevertheless holds the key that opened the door for them to record, the following year, a huge album,…

" When it was born 50 years ago, “Very ‘eavy … Very ‘umble” served up remarkable innovation, and with that very first record Uriah Heep proved they were a band with a finely honed musical pedigree, one they could boldly build on and push…

"The story behind the 50th anniversary of one of the most important albums in the history of rock music."

"With Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith back in the fold and a killer new album in "Brave New World", Iron Maiden reclaimed their status as a superpower on the global metal map at the dawn of the new millennium!"

"“In the Wake of Poseidon” is less predictable than the debut thanks to some fresh avant-garde touches, and that makes it a real treat for music connoisseurs."

"No-one gets to Heaven Till they've lived a while in Hell And even then it's rare That you'll be going there" Ronnie James Dio ("Magica", 2000)

Florian Schneider (pictured right), founding member of German music giants and electronic music innovators Kraftwerk, has died at the age of 73. The news was confirmed in an official statement by Schneider's colleague and fellow…

"When Ozzy left, plenty of people figured Black Sabbath were done. They couldn't have been more wrong. The band reinvented its sound and style and made one of the best albums of its career. This is the story of "Heaven And Hell"!"

"British Steel was the album where Judas Priest managed to elegantly fuse the bristling punch of heavy metal with a radio-friendly accessibility, given an extra boost by the rise of the N.W.O.B.H.M., and with it Judas Priest scored their…

Four decades ago, on April 14, 1980, heavy metal giants Iron Maiden unleashed their self-titled studio debut on the world. The road to it was thorny, but when the album landed, it actually charted one spot higher than the red-hot Saxon,…

" Back then, you'd have been hard-pressed to find an album that captured the wild, untamed spirit of a brand-new genre's big adventure better than "Wheels Of Steel". It's regarded as the central musical achievement that founded the…

"Duke is the album that loudly announced Genesis had entered the eighties too, riding a gradual storm of stylistic changes, just like plenty of their prog rock contemporaries."

At 67, one of Slovenia's sharpest and most distinctive blues and rock guitarists, Janez Zmazek - Žan, has left us for good. Under Žan's fingers and hands, his unforgettable guitar would "purr, sing and moan" in a way all its own, like…

"When it came out, the Black Sabbath debut was met with mostly disapproval and incomprehension from the critics of the day, and it took years for it to earn the respect and standing it deserves as one of the most important achievements in…

"This year marks 50 years since the album that "saved" Van Der Graaf Generator's career and clearly set the compass needle for the band's further evolution. An album that arrived ahead of its time and, with its avant-garde weirdo swagger,…

ALEŠ PODBREŽNIK Slovenia:1. Bakalina Velika - Prvi krajec "What its predecessor “Španabije” (2017) hinted at in the closing track Ko se je dielu sviet, “Prvi krajec” fully delivers. With the new album, Bakalina Velika cunningly stretched…

This RockLine piece is all about albums by Slovenian artists that came out last year and are simply too good not to shout about. So here we go! RockLine has dug through the best of the best that the Slovenian music scene gave us last year:…

"Permanent Waves", the seventh studio album from the mighty Canadian prog-rock fortress Rush, came out on 14.01.1980 on Mercury Records, which means exactly 40 years ago. On this album, Rush started approaching arrangements in a more…

Ahead of Saturday's marathon of established local champs and promising young forces of the Slovenian metal scene, we're putting their videos in the spotlight. Make the wait for Support the Scene Fest go faster by checking out the videos…

On Monday, April 16, 2018, Alan Jakin, a former member of Nova Gorica art rock champions Avtomobili, passed away after a serious illness. He was one of the most distinctive guitarists around, and his playing and approach left a lasting…