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.

50) Metal Edge Editor GERRI MILLER Has Passed Away 

Sad news passed on March 15 with the death of Gerri Miller. Miller was the editor of the respected Metal Edge magazine, which was published from 1985 to 2009.

Canadian author / entrepreneur Mitch Joel said, “Gerri was a true force of nature, and had a real love for hard rock - especially giving new bands a real shot. I can’t tell you how many bands that magazine (and her writing) turned me on to. As the years progressed - and I became a music writer - Gerri was always warm, welcoming, and supportive.”

Read more here.

49) How LED ZEPPELIN Created A Song So Epic, It Scarred Them For Life; Professor Of Rock Investigates (Video)

The Professor Of Rock aimed his lens at Led Zeppelin’s masterful song “Kashmir” – a track that scared Jimmy Page and brought Robert Plant to tears. A definite intriguing story wonderfully told by the Professor.

Check it out here.

48) GUNS N' ROSES Guitarist RICHARD FORTUS On Working With SLASH - "He Doesn't Repeat Himself; That's Why He Is A Legend"

In an interview with Guitar World, guitarist Richard Fortus discussed a myriad of topics, including working with Slash. 

Fortus spoke about the improvisation during the GN’R shows and said, "It was so much fun because Slash was playing completely different every time. He doesn’t repeat himself. That’s why he is a legend. As a guitar player, you tend to fall into your ruts – you know what works for your solos and how to build them when you play them every night. But Slash doesn’t do that, in the same way Hendrix never did. You’d listen to four different bootlegs from the same tour and they’d all be completely different.”

Read the rest here.

47) MÖTLEY CRÜE Bassist NIKKI SIXX On Status Of The Stadium Tour 2021 - "Our Concern Is The Safety Of Not Only Our Fans, But Everybody Involved In A Tour"

In February, there was still much uncertainty about the status of touring (and the world) during the COVID-19 pandemic and the much ballyhooed The Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

Postponed from 2020 to 2021 (and now to 2022) Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx posted on social media about the possibility of the tour happening in 2021 saying, “As soon as we get the green light, we’re excited to get out and tour.”

See more here.

46) JON OLIVA On Possibility Of A New SAVATAGE Album - "I've Been Writing Savatage Material Since 2003; All I Can Say Is It's Very Possible"

While the Trans-Siberian Orchestra snow (and money) machine keeps roaring endlessly, fans have been wondering if their shadow, Savatage will ever write new music and have a follow-up to 2001’s Poets And Madmen. 

In March, singer Jon Oliva was asked on the 80’s Glam Metalcast about new Savatage material saying, “Since the Wacken show in 2015, Chris Caffery, Al Pitrelli, and myself have been trading song ideas for a possible Savatage thing. I’ve been writing Savatage material since 2003. I could do a quadruple double album if I wanted to.”

See the rest here.

45) JOHN CORABI Talks MÖTLEY CRÜE – “I Wish They Left Me Out Of The Dirt Movie”

The black sheep of the Mötley Crüe family, John Corabi was a guest on the 80’s Glam Metalcast and one the questions he answered is he had an issues with his old band.

Corabi said, “My only beef with those guys, is I wish they left me out of The Dirt movie. I don’t know if it was intentional or unintentional…but my portrayal in the movie made me look like a fucking babbling moron.”

Check out more here.

44) VINCE NEIL, GILBY CLARKE, NIGHT RANGER, And More Confirmed For Monsters On The Mountain

The Monsters On The Mountain “three-day hard rock hoedown” took place in October and the lineup announcement in May gained many eyes with the announcement of Vince Neil, former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, and Night Ranger performing at the event.

Read more here.

43) EQUILIBRIUM Release New Old School Song "XX"; Music Video Streaming

German epic metallers Equilibrium made the old new again by taking unfinished, unused parts from an old song in the their early years and completed it with the simply titled “XX” – an anniversary gift to their fans celebrating 20 years as a band.

Watch the video for the track here.

42) KISS Forced To Postpone Last Night’s Show In West Palm Beach, Florida Due To Severe Weather Conditions

KISS’ The End Of The Road tour hit a snag in October when their West Palm Beach store was postponed due to heavy thunderstorms. 

The band was scheduled to hit the stage around 8:45 PM, but weather quickly started to deteriorate around 7:30 PM, before Garibaldi – the painter who has been the opener for the shows – even appeared on stage. Venue officials asked the crowds occupying the amphitheater’s hill to seek shelter in the covered area of the venue or even their cars, as the tropical storm was about to get serious.

Read more here.

41) SEBASTIAN BACH On WOLFGANG VAN HALEN's Debut Single "Distance" - "It Hit Me So Hard That I Can Never Listen To It Again"

Sebastian Bach was emotionally hit hard when hearing Wolfgang Van Halen’s song “Distance”. The former Skid Row singer said in an interview with The Aquarian, "When I heard the new Wolfgang Van Halen song ['Distance'], it hit me so hard that I can never listen to it again. I love Van Halen and Eddie so much that I can’t take it. When Wolfgang sings to his dad in heaven, it makes me think of my dad in heaven and it’s too much. The song is so emotionally powerful that I can’t listen to it. And then people ask me, 'Well, what did you think of the "Distance" music video?' And I tell them, 'Are you out of your fucking mind? There is no chance I am watching that. You would have to call a medic and take me out on a stretcher.'

See the rest here.