Metal Monarchy

The rock star lifestyle is a crazy one right? Just how crazy is it? Find out by watching these endlessly entertaining Guitar World videos of a plethora of famous guitarists discussing their wildest experiences on tour. From Kerry King to Dave Mustaine, hear some weird, wild, stuff right here.

The "Unholy Alliance: Chapter 3" tour just got a whole lot more... unholier? Swedish viking death-metallers Amon Amarth are adding their pagan brand of metal to a tour that already includes the almighty Slayer (fuck yea!), Trivium (eh), and Mastodon (boo). Some new dates have been announced as well.

Poor old Avenged Sevenfold. That crowd at the "Gods of Metal" festival in Italy just didn't give them a chance! Surely, it's not because of their overactive egos, pretty boy makeup and poserish lingo. Those Italians chanted for Iron Maiden during A7X's entire set! Even during that rousing half-assed rendition of Pantera's "Walk." I mean, come on, covering that song hasn't been played out or anything... has it? "Yo yo yo" check out M. Shadows throwing a hissy fit:

A killer metal festival seems to be the norm in Europe every weekend during the summer months. Two weekends ago it was "Hellfest" in France. This past weekend it was "Gods of Metal" in Bologna, Italy. Musica Metal got a ton of great footage of some of the biggest bands performing the epic festival. Watch it!

Iron Maiden performing "Fear of the Dark":

Guitar has always been my instrument. I picked it up at a young age and have never played anything else. Why? A matter of convenience more than anything else. I had one. It's a very practical instrument. I love guitar, don't get me wrong, but the instrument that I have always had a true fascination with are the drums.

Metal as a genre features some of the greatest drummers in the world. The characteristic that sets most of them apart from drummers in other genres - and that makes me enjoy their work so much - is their emphasis on blistering speed. These are the drummers whose manic energy gives the music that spectacular quality that I crave: Sheer, unadulterated aggression!

George Kollias of Nile playing "The Essential Salts":