Paul Rodgers suffered a severe health crisis some years ago, which almost left him unable to talk and sing.

The legendary singer, aged now 73 years old, discussed his health issues during an interview which aired on "CBS Mornings". Rodgers said that he suffered 11 minor strokes and two major strokes — one in 2016 and another in October 2019 — several years ago.

Rodgers said: "I couldn't do anything, to be honest. I couldn't speak. That was the very strange thing. You know, I'd prepare something in my mind and I'd say it, but that isn't what came out and I'd go, 'What the heck did I just say?'".

Rodgers underwent an endarterectomy, a procedure to remove plaque clogging a carotid artery, which posed a considerable risk to his vocal cords.

And he explained: "They cut the neck, and [the doctor] said that he was very careful because he knew I was a singer and that when you cut the neck, it's very close to the vocal cords. They told me, they were very clear, 'You may not come out of this alive". It took Rodgers six months after the surgery to return to playing the guitar and singing. "Each thing was a step forward," he explained. "Each thing that I did was an achievement … 'Oh, I can do this. I can sing,'".

Paul Rodgers' latest album was released some days ago (September 22nd, 2023). It is titled "Midnight Rose".

Fortress Under Siege drop a new music video, for the song "Distant Voices", off their upcoming album, "Envy".

The track is taken from the band’s upcoming album "Envy" that will be released on October 13, 2023 Digipack CD, Black / Yellow Splatter Vinyl limited to 500 copies worldwide and digital streaming/download format. 

Pre-order here: https://roar.gr/smartlinks/fus-envy/ 

Digital single of “Distant Voices” is now available across all digital and streaming platforms! Pre-save the album, here: https://bfan.link/envy-3 

Filmed, Edited and Directed by Bob Katsionis for Progressive Vision Group 

Diector of Photography / Camera Assistant: Alexander Haritakis 

Make-up: Georgia Lambridou 

Dancer: Manos Kopanakis 

Filmed at Rail Entertainment Studio 

Fotis Sotiropoulos commented about the song: "Distant Voices" was born when I decided to see if I can do something with an old lead guitar theme that I used to keep for years. Even if I had my doubts at first, it turned out to be a really interesting song. The lyrics are inspired by the famous sci-fi movie's "Blade runner's"  last scene with Rutger Hauer and Harrison Ford, when Rutger Hauer says his notorious short monologue just before he dies, accepting his tragic fate being a clone designed by humans with a limited life span. We made a video for this song where you can see a dancer as a tragic figure of a clone, dancing a desperate and passionate dance. 

Fortress Under Siege: 

Tasos Lazaris – Vocals 

Fotis Sotiropoulos – Lead Guitars 

Themis Gourlis – Rhythm Guitars 

George Georgiou – Keyboards 

St.evens Kopanakis – Bass 

Dimitris Kapoukakis – Drums 

Follow Fortress Under Siege: 

Website / Social Media: https://linktr.ee/fortressundersiege 

Some days ago The Rolling Stones announced their new album, "Hackney Diamonds", due on October 20, 2023. 

The first single off this upcoming album is "Angry" and now a new single follows, "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven", which features a bravura vocal performance by Lady Gaga, alongside Stevie Wonder on Fender Rhodes, Moog and piano. A gospel-infused STONES epic in the lineage of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Shine A Light", "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven" came about in a spontaneous fashion. STONES frontman Mick Jagger was at his home in London one sunny afternoon, the leaves were rustling as the wind blew through the trees around outside, and he started playing a chord pattern of C, F and B Flat on his piano. The track was recorded at Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; Metropolis Studios, London; Sanctuary Studios, Nassau, Bahamas and written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. During sessions in Los Angeles, THE ROLLING STONES invited Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga to work on "Heaven".

"Hackney Diamonds" album opener, the recently released single "Angry", is followed by a further 11 tracks. Late drummer Charlie Watts features on two tracks, "Mess It Up" and "Live By The Sword". "Live By The Sword" additionally features bass from former STONES bassist Bill Wyman. "Bite My Head Off" has bass from Paul McCartney, and "Get Close" and "Live By The Sword" feature piano from Elton John.

"Hackney Diamonds" tracklisting

01. Angry
02. Get Close
03. Depending On You
04. Bite My Head Off
05. Whole Wide World
06. Dreamy Skies
07. Mess It Up
08. Live By The Sword
09. Driving Me Too Hard
10. Tell Me Straight
11. Sweet Sounds Of Heaven
12. Rolling Stone Blues

Reunited heaby metallers Metalium have announced its new members (bassist and drummer). They are Fabio Carito (Bass) and Marcus Dotta (Drums), both Brazilian.

Henning Basse, the frontman of the German band, made the announcement on his official Facebook page. Here is what he wrote: