Avenged Sevenfold Wanted This Pop Singer to Guest on Their Album

Avenged Sevenfold's new album, Life Is But a Dream… is finally available. And thanks to an interview with Avenged Sevenfold singer M. Shadows, we're learning a lot from the making of the LP, including that the rock band wanted to get influential pop and R&B singer Lionel Richie to add vocals on a song. Can you believe it?

If the timing had aligned, as Shadows told music influencer Nik Nocturnal last week, Avenged Sevenfold hoped to have Richie sing a part in "Beautiful Morning," the centerpiece of the album.

Watch the Avenged Sevenfold singer explain what happened at 34:50 in the video below.

"We were talking to Lionel Richie about doing the vocal part there," Shadows reveals, as Kerrang! subsequently reported on Tuesday (June 6).

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However, "At the end of the day, he got too busy with America's Got Talent or whatever," the Avenged Sevenfold lead vocalist continues. "But he was gonna sing that [section], 'It's a beautiful morning / It's a beautiful day.'" (Note: Richie is currently a judge on American Idol, not America's Got Talent).

Shadows adds, "It would have been so good. And everyone would have been like, What?!" (To wit, a pair of female guest vocalists do appear on another track on Life Is But a Dream…, the song "G.")

Richie has ties in rock: The icon revealed his friendship with Rob Zombie earlier this year on American Idol. He's also befriended Dave Grohl — the Foo Fighters leader once received a basket of muffins from Richie. Grohl performed in Richie's honor as part of the 2016 MusiCares Gala.

Alas, the team-up didn't come to pass for Avenged Sevenfold. Still, Avenged Sevenfold are touring throughout North America this summer. See the dates under the video and get tickets here.

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Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows Talks to Nik Nocturnal - June 2, 2023

Avenged Sevenfold 2023 Tour Dates

June 9 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Kia Forum
June 23 – New York, N.Y. @ MSG
July 18 – Camden, N.J. @ Freedom Pav.
July 19 – Mansfield, Mass. @ Xfinity Ctr
July 21 – Quebec City, Quebec @ Videotron Ctr
July 22 – Montreal, Quebec @ Bell Ctr
July 24 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Canadian Tire Ctr
July 26 – Clarkston, Mich. @ Pine Knob Theatre
July 28 – Tinley Park, Ill. @ Hollywood Casino
July 29 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Target Ctr
July 31 – Winnipeg, Manitoba @ Canada Life
Aug. 2 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan @ SaskTel Ctr
Aug. 4 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Rogers Place
Aug. 5 – Calgary, Alberta @ Saddledome
Aug. 7 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ GM Place
Sept. 16 – W. Palm Beach, Fla. @ iTHINK Amp.
Sept. 17 – Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Amp.
Sept. 19 – Charlotte, N.C. @ PNC Pavilion
Sept. 20 – Alpharetta, Ga. @ Ameris Amp.
Sept. 22 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Bridgestone Arena
Sept. 23 – Louisville, Ky. @ Louder Than Life
Sept. 25 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino
Sept. 26 – Kansas City, Mo. @ T-Mobile Ctr
Sept. 28 – Denver, Colo. @ Ball Arena
Sept. 30 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ USANA Amp.
Oct. 2 – Tacoma, Wash. @ Tacoma Dome
Oct. 3 – Portland, Ore. @ MODA Ctr
Oct. 5 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Aftershock
Oct. 7 – Chula Vista, Calif. @ North Island Amp.
Oct. 8 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Talking Stick
Oct. 10 – Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amp.
Oct. 12 – Woodlands, Texas @ Mitchell Pavilion
Oct. 13 – Austin, Texas @ Germania Amp.
Oct. 15 – Fort Worth, Texas @ Dickies Arena