Rihanna’s guitarist, Nuno Bettencourt, has denied the long-standing rumor that the singer wanted to make a heavy metal album. Back in 2009, The Daily Star reported that Rihanna was “desperate to go all heavy metal,” but her record label “had a seizure” over her hopes for a change in musical direction. The article quoted Bettencourt as saying that Rihanna was listening to Led Zeppelin and Paramore and wanted to make a heavy metal album. However, in a recent interview with Classic Rock, Bettencourt denied making any of those comments in 2009. He stated that the quotes were fabricated and that Rihanna never had any intention of making a heavy metal album. He mentioned that he was asked to play the guitar on “Umbrella” and rock out the show, but they never discussed making a heavy metal record.
In other news, Rihanna received a standing ovation for her performance of “Lift Me Up” at the Oscars 2023 last week. Her performance paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who starred in “Black Panther.” The performance was introduced by Danai Gurira, who also stars in “Wakanda Forever.” Rihanna’s performance was powerful and emotional and celebrated Boseman’s legacy.
Despite the false rumor about the heavy metal album, Rihanna continues to be a dynamic artist who pushes musical boundaries and inspires her fans. Her performance at the Oscars 2023 showcased her incredible vocal talent and undeniable stage presence, and reminded us why she is a musical icon.