"Former PRS designer Joe Knaggs had his full line of new JSK Guitars on display for the first time, including solidbodies, semi-hollows and acoustics."
What was already a standout moment of this year's Wacken Open Air, the world's largest metal festival, turned into something even bigger when legendary guitarist Michael Schenker pulled a surprise no one saw coming. The architect of hard rock used the world's loudest stage to announce that a brand new Michael Schenker Group studio album, titled Don't Sell Your Soul, will be released on October 3 via earMUSIC.
To mark the occasion, Schenker and his band closed the show with a world-exclusive live premiere of the new album's title track — a powerful encore that took the Wacken crowd by surprise and was met with instant enthusiasm on the muddy festival fields. You can now listen to the new track HERE.
Don't Sell Your Soul is the second part of an album trilogy that began with 2024's My Years With UFO. This will be the first studio album for MSG since Universal in 2022.
The album was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss, and recorded with Schenker's longtime allies: Bodo Schopf (drums), Barend Courbois (bass), and Steve Mann (guitar, keys). On vocals: the impeccable Erik Grönwall (Skid Row, H.E.A.T) – undoubtedly one of the finest rock voices of his generation. Guest appearances on vocals by Robin McAuley, Dimitri "Lia" Liapakis, and Michael Voss round out the cast.
The Michael Schenker Group was formed in 1979 and has released 12 studio albums with many different members over the years, with Schenker the only constant presence.
Michael Schenker played in the rock band UFO and leads the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). He was an early member of the hard rock band Scorpions, a band co-founded by his elder brother Rudolf Schenker.
Michael Schenker is regarded as one of the most influential guitarists of the 1970s, and is widely known as a legendary figure in the history of metal guitar.
Michael Schenker is an undisputed living legend and it is time to sell your soul with MSG. Let us know what you think! Michael IS doing a limited amount of interviews so let's talk and see what we can set up!
Kiesel Guitars has introduced the two newest models in the company’s iconic line of custom-built instruments: the Kyber Headless and Masvidalien MIII now join the lineup of Kiesel’s premium US-made instruments.
Designed to excel in a variety of musical styles, the versatile Kyber Headless is available in 6, 7, and 8-string configurations, standard or multiscale. Key features include:
7 different body woods for customization
25.5” scale length, 15 different fretboard woods for customization, 24 frets
Over 100 different pickup configurations
Kiesel-Designed locking nut, headpiece for hanging, optional body scoops
The Masvidalien MIII is the debut Kiesel signature model from Paul Masvidal, guitarist and composer known for his work with Cynic, Death, Æon Spoke, and Mythical Human Vessel.
Built in Kiesel's California factory, the MIII was designed with strength, resonance, and playability at its core. Inspired by Kiesel's Kyber model, which Masvidal was already connected to, the MIII began as a natural extension of that instrument but quickly evolved into something uniquely its own, a hybrid guitar that expands on the Kyber's spirit and opens new creative ground.
Key features include:
Woods: 5A Poplar top with a Swamp Ash body, Buckeye top with a Roasted Swamp Ash body
25.5”-26.5”, Fretboard woods: Ebony, Richlite Diamond, Roasted Maple, Royal Ebony, and Roasted Birdseye Maple, 24 Fret
The brand-new Focus pickup, a humbucker made from two blade-style single coils that offers tighter and more precise tones
The Hybrid carbon fiber/wood neck, the Barbury Castle Crop Circle inlay, Headpiece for hanging,
Like other Kiesel models, the new Kyber Headless and Masvidalien MIII are available in a wide range of options for unique customization. Players can select their favorite finish, tonewoods, electronics and hardware to create the guitar of their dreams…expertly crafted in Kiesel’s Southern California custom shop.
Kiesel’s new Kyber Headless is available for street pricing starting at $1,599. The new Masvidalien MIII is available for street pricing starting at $3,199. For more information visit kieselguitars.com.
The Steve Morse Band has announced details of their brand-new album, Triangulation, which will be released on November 14 via Music Theories Recordings (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ayreon, Paul Gilbert, Vandenberg). To celebrate, they have unveiled the official video for their new track,“Break Through.”
“Break Through” is the first new music since the release of 2009's Out Standing In Their Field. Talking about the track, Steve Morse shares, "This may start with a guitar riff, but the bass carries the melody. It's just a great feel to play over, and a positive vibe to start the album."
Whenever we think of the greatest guitar players of all time, Steve Morse is a name that's always in the conversation. This album sees Morse teaming up once again with Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, and Flying Colors bassist Dave LaRue, with Van Romaine [Steve Morse Band/Enrique Iglesias] joining on drums.
Steve beams, "Dave and Van have been the bedrock of this trio, and this recording shows why. These guys are unique and incredible musicians on their own, and together, our chemistry is magical. While making the album, we played together, working through parts, riffing off each other, and collaborating on arrangements. I'd bring an idea, and hear it instantly — and then hear it improved. We made this album together, and you can hear it."
There are also some stellar guest features, from Eric Johnson's majestic contributions to “TexUS” and John Petrucci bringing his inimitable progressive metal thunder and, of course, Kevin Morse joining his father on "Taken by an Angel.".
Executive producer Bill Evans noted, “The compositions are among Steve’s best. And audiences can finally hear every detail of Van and Dave’s performance…the band’s collaborative musicality.” Steve added, “Brian captured me brilliantly, and Carl Roa created more sonic and performance clarity than we’ve ever had.”
Morse started his career in the mid-1970s, playing mind-melting jazz-rock with The Dixie Dregs, which earned him multiple Grammy nominations in the process. The following decade, he formed the Steve Morse Band, grabbing an additional Grammy nod, and joined arena heavyweights Kansas, before being recruited by rock and roll originals Deep Purple in 1994. And despite being in one of the world's biggest bands, he continued to innovate in other projects like Living Loud, Angelfire, and Flying Colors – as well as guitar supergroup G3 – showing the world just how much versatility there was in those magic fingers. He announced his departure from Deep Purple in 2022, choosing to care for his wife, who passed away in 2024, by that point having become their longest-serving guitarist.
Naturally, the last few years have been the most personally traumatic of his life, which is perhaps why this year's creative comeback with the new Steve Morse Band album Triangulation embodies the spirit of a master returning to do what he does best. Its nine tracks are a thrilling ride through the mind of a musician who seemingly knows no bounds, crossing over into a cornucopia of sounds and styles from funk and blues to classical and metal.
“The album title Triangulation comes from the concept of aviators, navigators, and sailors looking at two points to pinpoint their exact location at a specific moment in time,” says Steve. It's a geographical concept that also applies to human life on a broader level, and given the journey Morse has been on in recent years, it's only natural that he's been on a path of self-discovery and reflection.
Perhaps the most poignant of the nine tracks is "Taken By An Angel" – a tribute to Steve's beloved wife Janine. Steve left the music world behind to care for her, remaining by her side until her final days. "That song is new territory for me," explains Morse. "It was put together for my late wife's memorial service, with my son Kevin playing along. It brought tears to many folks' eyes because Janine was a huge part of my life and career. People knew her from the Steve Morse Band tours. She was the smiling face opening CDs for me to sign, selling t-shirts, listening to people's stories in the crowd, and taking photos for VIP visits."
After all the heartache and anguish of the last few years, you can't help but feel grateful Morse is once again ready to share his creative genius with the world around him. Given his stature among the guitar community – often lauded as 'your hero's hero' in the same way people spoke about Jeff Beck – his creative return marks a new phase of inspiration and brilliance. In that sense, you can tell the release of this record means a lot to him.
The band hits the road in October bringing the new repertoire to the stage. Steve Morse shares, “Every generation or so, we put out a new album, and the time is now! We'll be doing new material on stage, and have enlisted a special guest, Angel Vivaldi, to allow us to better perform some of the layered tunes in concert. Excited to have a bigger sound and new material! See you on tour!” Van Romaine offers, “I am so thrilled for this brand new major Steve Morse Band chapter with new tour dates and an album that was so much fun to record with Steve and Dave LaRue, and a couple special guests. While music is always subjective this Triangulation album is such a gem to me on many levels.”
IK Multimedia releases the Brown Sound 82/84 Signature Collection for TONEX, the third and final installment of the limited TONEX Brown Sound series. This collection features 83 carefully crafted Tone Models, including several amp-only captures for use with your favorite IRs or running through a real cab on stage.
As the push for radio-ready hits grew stronger, the Brown Sound became tighter, more refined, and more polished without losing its iconic edge. Users will discover both authentic recreations and thoughtful variations to reflect different theories about how these legendary tracks were recorded.
1982 Tone Models
The '82 sessions introduced a brighter, more layered tone while preserving the core character of the previous recordings. The G12-65 speaker remained key to the sound, delivering a tight low end, warm midrange, and a smoother, less spiky high end than the earlier Greenbacks. Recorded in Amigo studios, changes in mic placement and outboard gear added polish and dimension, resulting in a more refined studio sound.
1984 Tone Models The '84 sessions marked a leap forward in tonal precision and production quality. Tracked and mixed at a newly built studio in Coldwater Canyon, the sound became more controlled and processed, yet still retained the grit and energy of earlier recordings. The suspected use of Telefunken EL34s likely contributed to the added warmth and mid-forward presence, while amp tweaks and precise Variac adjustments gave each track its own tonal identity.
The Amp: "The ONE" At the heart of the Brown Sound 82/84 collection is "The ONE" - a meticulously crafted Marshall-style amp built from the ground up with the exact same spec as the infamous 1968 Super Lead serial number #12301, including crucial mods that capture the DNA of the early brown sound like no other amp model.
No Tone Unturned Each Tone Model was built using controllable levers like Variac voltage, cab voicing, mic geometry, and parallel load, with options spanning different voltages, speakers, and pickups to reflect the shift from '82 to '84. All models are level-matched, offered with or without parallel load, and captured raw without post-processing for authentic, period-correct amp tones.
Ready to Play As with all collections in the series, these Tone Models were crafted using period-correct gear and capture techniques to recreate the final two albums of that era genuinely. Each Tone Model reproduces the recorded album tone in exquisite detail, offering an ideal foundation for adding time-based effects—either within TONEX or through a favorite pedal.
Pricing and Availability The Brown Sound 82/84 Signature Collection is now available via ToneNET and within any version of TONEX for Mac/PC at $/€99.99.*
TONEX ONE Brown Sound Limited Edition - $/€249.99 - Available in white, red, or yellow. Includes Brown Sound 78/79 and a choice of one other Brown Sound collection (a $/€199.98 software value). Existing Brown Sound 78/79 users will receive a $/€50 discount at the IK store.
TONEX Brown Sound Anthology Collector's Limited Edition - $/€599.99 - Shipping now. Box set includes all three colors of TONEX ONE (white, red, and yellow) plus all three Brown Sound Signature Collections (78/79, 80/81, and 82/84). Limited to 200 units worldwide.
*Pricing excluding taxes.
For complete details and information about the Brown Sound Anthology collections and pedals, and to hear the tones, visit:
Peter Frampton and Warren Haynes at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photo Credit: Jim Belmont
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, GRAMMY® Award-winning musician and one of the most celebrated artists in rock history, Peter Frampton, is the latest artist featured in the new public television series The Art of Musicwhich premiered September 6. Presented by United MileagePlus® Cards from Chase and filmed in front of a live invited audience at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Frampton is interviewed by guitarist, singer and songwriter Warren Haynes.
As part of this unique series, Haynes led a conversation with Frampton about his musical journey, sharing insights into his creative processes. The discussion intertwined some of Frampton’s timeless hits such as “Do You Feel Like We Do”, “Baby I Love Your Way”, and “Show Me The Way”.
“It was wonderful performing for The Art of Music series, it’s such a unique way of putting art and music together and to have done this at The Met, what an honor,” says Frampton.
The Art of Music, created and executive produced by iMaggination’s Don Maggi, was created to give viewers a rare look inside the artists’ lives and their creative practice at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art. In this episode, after nearly 50 years since Frampton Comes Alive! was released, which remains one of the top-selling live records of all time–selling over 17 million worldwide, the celebrated guitarist shares stories about his vast catalog and significant moments in his career.
“We're excited to share this new episode of The Art of Music featuring Peter Frampton and Warren Haynes,” says Maggi. “The combination of these two legends together on stage within the walls of the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art offers audiences a unique and intimate look inside Frampton's historic journey through storytelling and performance.”
Rob Arthur, Alison Prestwood, Peter Frampton and Warren Haynes
at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photo Credit: Jim Belmont
“We were thrilled to welcome Peter Frampton to The Met for an unforgettable visit. Sharing our newly acquired collection of American guitars with him was a true privilege, made all the more special as Frampton recounted his journey as a guitarist and performed some of his most iconic music." - Jayson Kerr Dobney, Frederick P. Rose Curator in Charge of the Department of Musical Instruments at The Met
Frampton’s episode of The Art of Music will air on public television stations nationwide beginning September 6, 2025. Fans may also watch on The Art of Music website or stream on the PBS app.
The national public television World Channel will air the episode Saturday, October 4 at 7pm ET, with a repeat on Monday October 6 at 5am ET (adjust by time zone). Visit worldchannel.org to find your local World Channel station. The program will air on the
All Arts Channel and on the All Arts app in the New York Metro area on Saturday, October 25 at 9 pm.
This special interview and performance featuring Peter Frampton presented by United MileagePlus® Cards from Chase was an unforgettable occasion for Chase United Cardmembers who were invited to attend the intimate live taping. The United MileagePlus® Cards from Chase provide Cardmembers with access to exclusive events and experiences in addition to many reward and travel benefits with United Airlines. Underwriters for The Art of Music are The Mark Hotel and SUNDRAGON.
Additional artists to be announced for the series soon. For more information, visit https://theartofmusic.org.