What’s occurring? Funk-rock legends Extreme are storming back to the UK in August 2025 for two exclusive concerts as part of their European takeover – and you can bet your last Greggs sausage roll it’s going to be tidy. 🥐🎶
Formed in Boston back in the mid-’80s, Extreme are the band that made blending funk, metal, and stadium-sized hooks look easy. From the worldwide mega-ballad More Than Words to the face-melting Get the Funk Out, they’ve carved a legacy built on Nuno Bettencourt’s insane guitar chops and Gary Cherone’s powerhouse vocals.
And now, nearly 40 years on, they’re still proving they’ve got plenty left in the tank. Their latest record showed the lads haven’t lost their edge – the riffs are sharper than ever, the grooves dirtier, and the solos… well, Nuno’s solos could probably power half of Wales if you plugged them into the National Grid. ⚡🏴
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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