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THE NATIONAL GUITAR MUSEUM has announced that RITCHIE BLACKMORE has received its annual "Lifetime Achievement" Award. Blackmore is the sixteenth recipient of the award and whose vast career spans more than 60 years. According to NGM's executive director: "Most people know Ritchie from being the driving creative force behind two of the defining hard rock bands of all time—Deep Purple and Rainbow. But before starting those bands, he had a long career as a London session musician, performing on records by numerous artists, including The Outlaws. And then—after helping to define hard rock guitar in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s—he formed Blackmore's Night, incorporating medieval and Renaissance acoustic music into his immense repertoire."
Internationally acclaimed guitarist / composer and Firewind mastermind GUS G. will release his fifth solo album Steel Burner on April 24. The album marks his first solo release in five years and captures a powerful fusion of modern instrumental Metal and carefully curated vocal collaborations. Metal Queen Doro Pesch appears on "Nothing Can Break Me", a powerful metal anthem focused on inner strength, perseverance, and resilience. "No One Has To Know", featuring Dino Jelusick, delivers a modern hard rock approach while addressing the artificial lives and personas often portrayed through social media. Matt Barlow (Iced Earth, Ashes of Ares) brings his unmistakable intensity to "Dancing With Death", an epic metal track with a contemporary twist that explores the darker theme of addiction. Additional collaborations include Ronnie Romero (Rainbow), whose work with Gus G. originated from their recent joint world tour and resulted in two tracks on the album.
German metalheads and HardRadio friends PRIMAL FEAR have updated their European tour schedule to include the second leg of their Domination tour: March 11 - O2 Academy Islington - London, United Kingdom. 12 - KK's Steel Mill - Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. 14 - Metal Diver Festival 2026 - Marsberg, Germany. 15 - Club Vaudeville - Lindau, Germany. 16 - Spectrum - Augsburg, Germany. 17 - Slaughter Club - Paderno Dugnano, Italy. 20 - Byscenen - Trondheim, Norway. 21 - Gjerdrum Kulturhus - Gjerdrum, Norway. 22 - Kollektivet Livet - Stockholm, Sweden. 24 - Tavastia Club - Helsinki, Finland. 25 - Olympia-Kortteli - Tampere, Finland. 27 - Helitehas - Tallinn, Estonia. 28 - Palladium Riga - Rīga, Latvia. 29 - Art Factory LOFTAS - Vilnius, Lithuania. September 12 - Sinner Rock 2026 - Sinntal, Germany. 26 - Schutzi Olten - Olten, Switzerland. October 2 - Rathaussaal - Telfs, Austria. 3 - Monster Festival 2026 - Geiselwind, Germany. 4 - Petit Bain - Paris, France. 6 - Le Rex - Toulouse, France. 7 - Anden 65 - Burgos, Spain. 8 - Wagon - Madrid, Spain. 10 - Totem - Pamplona, Spain. 11 - Roig Arena - Valencia, Spain.
