In the wide world, 2021 was filled with stories about a virus and various other ills, but there was also plenty of noteworthy items (for better or worse) in the heavy metal realm. BraveWords recaps the top 66 news stories of 2021 that go from highs to lows to the weird and the strange.

The top stories were compiled based on the amount of views, not on story importance.

10) BLACK SABBATH’s GEEZER BUTLER Says RONNIE JAMES DIO Negotiated A Solo Deal During The Success Of Mob Rules - “He Didn’t Need The Rest Of Us”

Previewing a BW interview with Geezer Butler promoting the reissue of the Dio-era albums Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules, the Black Sabbath bassist spoke about Dio moving forward to a solo career.

Butler said, “So towards the end of the Mob Rules period, Ronnie thought because of him, Sabbath was doing well again. He thought he was important enough to go solo. He didn’t need the rest of us.”

Read more here.

9) VINCE NEIL Schedules Solo Show The Day Before The Stadium Tour With MÖTLEY CRÜE Is Set To Begin

Before it was known The Stadium Tour Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackheart was postponed to 2022, Crüe frontman Vince Neil curiously scheduled a solo show the day before the tour would begin. The tour would end up being postponed and the solo show would end being cancelled as well. 

See more here.

8) BraveWords Statement Regarding Sensitive Alexi Laiho Shared News Feed And Apology To Kelli Wright-Laiho

When the tragic news of Alexi Laiho’s death happened, BW posted some personal statements made about Alexi, but out of respect to Alexi and the rest of Children Of Bodom, BW removed the posts that featured comments from Alexi’s partner Kelli Wright-Laiho. 

See our whole statement here regarding the situation.

7) GUY FIERI - "Every Time SAMMY HAGAR Talks To You, It's Just Like He's Talking To A Concert Of 80,000 People"

The Mayor of Flavortown Guy Fieri guested on After School Radio on Apple Music Hits and the chef talked about his friendship with “The Red Rocker” Sammy Hagar.

Fieri said, “"We have an ongoing joke because Sammy and I have a tequila company together called Santo and Sammy is one of the most, I don't even know how to explain to him. He's one of the deepest people you'll ever meet. And coming from Montrose to being Sammy, to being Van Hagar, to such an amazing guy. And so I got to be friends with him. There was a contest to sell his tequila, which back in the day was called Cabo Wabo. Whoever sold the most Cabo Wabo got to go to the Sammy Hagar concert here in Northern California and get a signed guitar from him and meet him.”

Read the rest here.

6) DAVID LEE ROTH On EDDIE VAN HALEN - "He's Either In Heaven Raisin' Hell, Or He's In Hell, Consequently In Heaven... Read Into That As You Wish"; Video

The ever verbose David Lee Roth was on the red carpet for the MTV Video Music Awards in September and US Weekly was asked if he was working on new music.

He replied, "I'm going to Las Vegas on New Year's, and we're rockin' and rollin'. You know my guitar player passed away, Eddie Van Halen. He's either in heaven raisin' hell, or he's in hell, consequently in heaven. Read into that as you wish.”

See more here.

5) MICHAEL ANTHONY Reflects On Relationship With EDDIE VAN HALEN – “We Had Some Issues That Were Never Resolved”

In January, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony was interviewed on Talkin’ Rock With Meltdown podcast and he spoke about Eddie Van Halen and their complicated relationship and he wasn’t able to patch things up before Eddie’s death. 

Anthony reflected on this missed opportunity saying, “We actually hadn’t spoken [for the last few years], and unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to. And, you know, it kind of bothers me because we had some issues that were never resolved.”

Check out more here.

4) CARMINE APPICE On Former KISS Guitarist VINNIE VINCENT - "He’s A Freakin’ Weirdo Is All I Can Say"; Video

On the White Line Fever podcast, drummer Carmine Appice had some unkind words for former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent. 

“He’s a freakin’ weirdo is all I can say,” Appice, 74, tells host Steve Mascord. “Great talent, great songwriter, great player before he started doing his Vinnie Vincent albums. He played like crap on those albums.”

Read the rest here.

3) MÖTLEY CRÜE - 15-Year-Old CASEY BISHOP Auditions For American Idol With A Cappella Performance Of "Live Wire"

15-year-old Casey Bishop auditioned for the new season of reality singing competition, American Idol, with an a cappella performance of Mötley Crüe’s “Live Wire”. Truly impressive take on the track.

Watch it here.

2) KISS' GENE SIMMONS Drops Price Of Las Vegas Mansion, Says Family Doesn't Want To Deal With Heat, Or Strippers; Video

TMZ somehow manages to get headline material quotes from celebrities and it was no different with Gene Simmons selling his Las Vegas home.

Simmons stressed that Vegas is the perfect place to live with no income, state or local tax. So, why in the world is he selling it?! He says his family doesn't want to deal with the Vegas heat or any strippers - for that matter."

Read more here.

1) RICHIE SAMBORA On His Relationship With JON BON JOVI - "If I Had A Coffee Place, The Sign Would Say 'Have A Hot Steaming Cup Of Shut The _ Up'"; Full Interview With NILE RODGERS To Air This Saturday

Previewing an interview on Deep Hidden Meaning Radio with Nile Rodgers, Richie Sambora had some pointed words toward his former bandmate Jon Bon Jovi.

In the following excerpt, Sambora tells Nile Rodgers about his relationship with Jon Bon Jovi...

Nile Rodgers: "It's strange because when a band has a front guy, and the band has the front guy's name, you think that all the singing is the front guy."

Richie Sambora: "And all the writing."

Rodgers: "And all the writing, that's true."

Sambora: "Exactly. That was part of my deal, to shut the - up. If I had a coffee place, the sign would say, "Have a hot steaming cup of shut the - up." That would be my coffee place. And you know what? Guess what?"

Check out the rest here.