Deadland Ritual Share Debut Song, "Down In Flames"
Supergroup featuring Geezer Butler, Steve Stevens and Matt Sorum to play debut shows in June.
Deadland Ritual, featuring Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens, former Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum and Apocalyptica vocalist Franky Perez have shared their debut song and video, “Down In Flames." You can check it out above.
Regarding the band’s origins, Sorum, who came up with the initial idea, explained: "Steve and Franky were the first guys I called. We knew we wanted to create a heavier rock sound, but when I contacted Geezer and he agreed to play, I knew this could be a great band. Not long after we connected with producer Greg Fidelman, Deadland Ritual was born."
Said Butler: "I was working on a new solo album when this came to light. It was appealing for me to work in a band environment because that's what I'm used to, so [it] feels really natural. I'm really looking forward to playing shows with these guys."
Added Stevens about his first studio session with Butler: "There's a lot of times in the studio as a guitar player, you get a guitar sound and you're trying to make it work, tweaking it. There was none of that bullshit. It just fit against his bass sound and it was really exciting to me. I get to hear my guitar against a bass guitarist that I've idolized forever."
Deadland Ritual have announced two live performances, at the U.K.’s Download festival on June 14 and Hellfest in France on June 22.
For more information, head over to DeadlandRitual.com.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.

“The experience of our work with Jimmy in a vibrant, electric, mystical, and powerful perspective”: Unreleased Jimmy Page/Rich Robinson composition set to feature in upcoming deluxe version of Jimmy Page & the Black Crowes: Live at the Greek

“The king of modern blues getting down and dirty (musically) with a former Van Halen singer”: January 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks