Music

Iron Maiden‘s 1983 album, Piece of Mind, their first to enter the U.S. Top 20, is being reimagined for its 40th anniversary.

Rather than release a box set or a vinyl reissue, the band has partnered with Z2 Comics to create a graphic novel inspired by the album. In addition to artwork, the book features testimonials from writers, artists, actors and musicians, all talking about their love of Maiden.

Singer Bruce Dickinson says in a statement, “When the idea of a Piece of Mind 40th Anniversary graphic novel first came up, I felt it was the perfect medium to expand outside the confines of the songs and to create new storylines and new dimensions through short form narrative and imagery.”

“Equally as exciting was bringing together some of the top writers and illustrators in the industry who are all actual fans of the band, to add their own creative ideas inspired by the songs, [band mascot] Eddie, and the album itself,” he adds.

Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind includes original stories and art inspired by each of the album’s tracks. Among the celebrities offering testimonials: Public Enemy‘s Chuck D, Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, The Cure‘s Simon Gallup, AEW star Chris Jericho and famed director Jonas Akerlund.

The book is offered in five different versions, including a regular graphic novel that costs $40 and the $300 ASYLUM Edition, which features the book, a pop-up insert, a clamshell box, art prints, collectors cards in a display case and an Eddie Asylum Model Kit. You can preorder the various editions now.

Piece of Mind was the first Maiden album to feature drummer Nicko McBrain. It includes classics like “The Trooper” and “Flight of Icarus.”

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Being the most nominated male artist for this year’s CMA Awards is something Jelly Roll didn’t see coming. 

His wife, Bunnie XO, initially thought he didn’t get a nod.

“I woke up and went straight online. I didn’t send it to my wife. I just looked at my phone and I said, ‘You’re not going to believe this.’ And she’s such a good wife. She immediately put her arm on my shoulder and said, ‘Baby, you’re new to the genre. It’s okay.’ She started consoling me and I said, ‘We’re the most nominated male,'” Jelly recounts.

“She said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘We’ve got five nominations, Bunnie…And we just started cheering,” he shares.

One of the nods is for is Male Vocalist of the Year.

“Just to be even involved in that is just unreal,” Jelly says. “Frankly, I feel like when it comes to Male Vocalist of the Year, I am low on the hog of that chain of people. I mean, one, I think we should call it the Chris Stapleton Award and he should just give it away every year, you know? And I think to think about me being next to Cody Johnson, who I think is one of the best singers in country music.

“Morgan Wallen, who is just incredible in every way. Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton. I mean, we’re talking about guys that are really singing-singing, you know?” Jelly adds.

Jelly will open the CMA Awards with “Need a Favor” alongside a surprise, as-yet-unannounced guest.

“If you want to see a surprise, I would not miss opening the show, he says. “I got somebody coming out to sing with me, but I don’t think anybody’s going to see [that] coming.” 

The 57th CMA Awards air Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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When Jeezy sat down with Nia Long for a tell-all conversation on a plethora of personal life and career topics, he opened up about his recent divorce from Jeannie Mai, revealing that the couple tried therapy but it couldn’t help save their marriage. 

“This has not been an easy journey. I can tell you that I’m saddened. I can tell you that I’m disappointed. I can tell you that I’m uneasy,” Jeezy told Nia, who executed and also participated in the interview.

He added, “God has put me in a different path. And that path is going to entail for me, to take care of myself and to love myself.”

While the rapper didn’t provide clarity on what went wrong in his two-year union to the TV host, Jeezy agreed that they attempted to address their marital issues and “tried to do the work.”

In October, Jeezy discussed the split in his first statement since filing from divorce in September.

“The decision to end this chapter in my life was not made impulsively and comes with a heavy heart,” he wrote. “Despite this, my love and respect for Jeannie remains and the time we spent together holds a cherished place in my heart.” 

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Foo Fighters, Slipknot, Mötley Crüe and Limp Bizkit are headlining the 2024 Welcome to Rockville festival, taking place May 9-12 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The bill also includes Judas Priest, Falling in Reverse, Greta Van Fleet, Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed, Queens of the Stone Age, Jelly Roll, Evanescence, Mudvayne, The Offspring, Bad Omens, A Day to Remember, Anthrax, In This Moment, Primus and Architects.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit WelcometoRockville.com.

In other Foo news, Dave Grohl and company are also headlining Belgium’s 2024 Rock Werchter, taking place July 4-7. For ticket info, visit RockWerchter.be.

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Timbaland has apologized for comments he made about Britney Spears.

During a conversation at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on October 29, Timbaland was asked about the renewed interest in Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River,” a song he produced, after the release of Britney’s memoir, The Woman in Me. 

He responded saying Justin should “put a muzzle” on Britney.

“She going crazy. I wanted to call and say, ‘JT, you gotta put a muzzle on that girl,'” Timbaland said.

Now, Tim has walked that statement back.

“I’m sorry to all the Britney fans, even to her,” Timbaland said in a TikTok live on Tuesday, November 7. “I’m sorry, because muzzle was – no, you have a voice. You speak what you want to speak. Who am I to tell you what not to speak? And I was wrong for saying that.”

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HARDY knows who his pick for 2023 CMA Entertainer of the Year is, and it’s none other than his Big Loud Records labelmate and buddy Morgan Wallen.

“Morgan should win. Nobody in the format has entertained more people than Morgan Wallen this year. Morgan Wallen should win,” HARDY tells ABC Audio.

“He’s played multiple nights at stadiums that hold over 40,000 people. That’s a number that I don’t think anybody else in country music is doing or has done in a very long time,” he says.

Also in the running for Entertainer of the Year are Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson.

HARDY’s an early winner at the CMA Awards thanks to his Lainey Wilson-assisted “Wait in the Truck,” which was named Musical Event and Music Video of the Year. The track’s also up for Song and Single of the Year.

The 57th CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Against Me!‘s Laura Jane Grace has announced a new solo album called Hole in My Head.

The follow-up to 2021’s At War with the Silverfish will arrive on February 16. It includes the previously released single “Dysphoria Hoodie” and the just-released title track, which is available now via digital outlets.

The song “Hole in My Head” is accompanied by a video directed by Gilbert Trejo, son of Machete star Danny Trejo, which you can watch now on YouTube.

Grace has also announced a new run of tour dates, kicking off March 2 in Indianapolis and wrapping up March 24 in Fort Worth, Texas. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit LauraJaneGrace.com.

Here’s the Hole in My Head track list:

“Hole in My Head”
“I’m Not a Cop”
“Dysphoria Hoodie”
“Birds Talk Too”
“Punk Rock in Basements”
“Cuffing Season”
“Tacos and Toast”
“Mercenary”
“Keeping Your Wheels Straight”
“Hard Feelings”
“Give Up the Ghost”

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Carly Pearce is ready to add to her collection of trophies if she notches more wins at the 2023 CMA Awards.

“I have like a wall, a shelf. It has the five records that my grandmother always played for me. It has now my Grammy on it. It has my CMAs, my ACMs,” Carly tells ABC Audio. “It’s quite the collection now, which a lot of times just for perspective, if I’m feeling like down or whatever, I’ll just look at it and be like, ‘Oh, you’re fine.'”

In addition to being a Female Vocalist of the Year nominee, Carly and Chris Stapleton will take their Musical Event of the Year-nominated song, “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” to the CMA Awards stage. The performance, as Carly shares, will showcase a different side of Chris.

“It’s our first time singing it together. We had rehearsal this morning,” says Carly. “I’ve never seen this side of Stapleton in the best way and we really play into it. It’s shot so beautifully. I think it’s really going to be a moment.” 

The 57th CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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