By The Riff Report | Rockin’ for a cause, mun! 🤘
Maybe, just maybe, the kids’ll be alright… okay, that’s probably a stretch given the current chaos of the world — but thank the riff gods there’s still music! 🎶 Even as arts programmes keep getting chopped from schools faster than a dodgy encore, one organisation is refusing to let the amps go silent: Adopt the Arts, a nonprofit determined to keep music education alive for underserved elementary schools across the U.S.
And in 2026, they’re cranking up the volume once again with their Sound & Vision Awards, celebrating the legends who’ve made a massive mark on music — not just with their talent, but with their heart. 💖
This year’s honourees? None other than Geezer Butler — the bass-wielding dark wizard of Black Sabbath, and Paul Rodgers, the voice behind Free and Bad Company. Two icons, two genres-defining sounds, one mighty reason to raise a glass (or devil horns) in celebration. 🍻🤘
Butler, the lyrical and low-end architect of metal’s very foundation, and Rodgers, whose pipes could melt granite, have both shaped generations of rock fans — and now they’re being recognised for giving back to the very art that made them. Proper job, lads. 👏
Adopt the Arts, co-founded by actor Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and Abby Berman, has been fighting the good fight for over a decade, helping keep instruments, lessons, and creativity in schools that would otherwise be left in silence.
So while the world might be a bit of a bin fire 🔥, this at least is something to bang your head proudly about. The kids may not have flying cars, but with Geezer and Paul leading the charge, they’ll at least have guitars — and that’s a future worth moshing for. 🥁🎤
Diolch to the legends keeping the riffs alive! 🏴
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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