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In 1972, Gentle Giant joined Black Sabbath on their first US tour through shared management, only to uncover they were both being ripped off. Longtime HardRadio friend Derek Shulman, frontman of Gentle Giant, broke the news to Sabbath, leading to a tense meeting where Ozzy threw a bottle at their manager. Gentle Giant bought out their contract for £94,000, while Sabbath faced a gruelling legal battle before finally breaking free. SMALL STORIES FROM GIANT STEPS is a series of short vignettes taken from Giant Steps, an eye-opening memoir of Derek Shulman's extraordinary journey through music. From 1960s pop fame with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, to cult status as frontman of progressive-rock pioneers Gentle Giant, and later as a record executive who signed and developed global acts like Bon Jovi, Dream Theater, Slipknot, and more. Print and digital editions of Giant Steps will be available on October 7. Stay tuned for more episodes featuring Elton John, The Beatles, Pantera, Bon Jovi, and more.
Legendary bassist MARCO MENDOZA is heading to the UK this September following his return to the UK in 2025 as part of the Satriani/Vai band on tour this summer. Marco made his musical debut in 1989 playing on former Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward's solo album and went on to co-found Thin Lizzy spin off Black Star Riders in 2012. Marco has been a full time band member with giants such as Whitesnake, Journey, The Dead Daisies, Ted Nugent, and Thin Lizzy, and has been creating music as a solo artist since 2007. Shoot For The Stars Tour 2025 - UK Dates: September 17 - Trillians - Newcastle, UK. 18 - Molly's Chambers - Birkenhead, UK. 19 - The Patriot - Crumlin, UK. 21 - Upstairs - Inverness, UK. 23 - Tunnels - Aberdeen, UK. 24 - Bannermans - Edinburgh, UK. 25 - Yardbirds - Grimsby, UK. 26 - Queens Hall - Nuneaton, UK. 27 - The Cavern Club - Exeter, UK. 28 - The Joiners - Southampton, UK.
McFarlane Toys has announced the upcoming release of their 6" scale Music Maniacs action figure of very longtime HardRadio friend and Judas Priest legend ROB HALFORD. Description: Rob Halford, the "Metal God," is the legendary frontman of Judas Priest, one of heavy metal's most influential bands. Since joining in 1973, his powerful voice and iconic style helped define the genre. Judas Priest, formed in 1969, gained fame with albums like British Steel and Painkiller. Halford briefly left in the '90s but returned in 2003, solidifying his place in metal history. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
