Archive News Dec 06, 2001

The “MAJOR announcement” regarding the band's guitarist search that LIMP BIZKIT frontman Fred Durst had promised to make via his appearance by phone on yesterday's Total Request Live had turned out to be not much of an announcement at all. Besides plugging the group's new remix album, entitled New Old Songs, Durst revealed that the group's “search-for-a-guitarist” tour will now occur in January, with exact dates to be announced soon, and he also confirmed previous plans for a DVD release sometime in 2002, featuring all the group's videos so far as well as the remix videos that are due to be lensed in the months to come.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons will conduct an interview with Q104.3 FM on December 12th live from his Barnes &amp Nobles Astor Place book-signing in New York City (4 Astor Place / off Broadway). The signing starts at 6:00 PM. Leading up to the December 12th Barnes &amp Nobles Astor Place signing, Q104.3, New York's only classic rock station, will be giving copies of Gene's just-published autobiography, Kiss And Make-Up, as well as some other “really amazing” Kiss And Make-Up surprise V.I.P. prizes including The KISS Box Set. Also, look for excerpts from Kiss And Make-Up in the new issue of Playboy and Guitar World. Kiss And Make-Up (Crown Publishing) is available for purchase online or at your local bookstore.

JUDAS PRIEST are scheduled to be the special guests on this week's VH1Rock Show, hosted by ANTHRAX's Scott Ian, which airs Friday night/Saturday morning at 12:00 AM EST.

For the second time in four months, MARILYN MANSON has been accused of rubbing his crotch on a security guard's head. According to a report posted at MTV.com, David M. Diaz of Anoka County, Minnesota, filed a $75,000 civil suit against MANSON on Tuesday in a Minneapolis federal court, claiming battery and emotional distress, ridicule and shame, mental anguish, embarrassment, and humiliation as a result of MANSON's actions. Diaz, a security guard working the front barricade at Minneapolis' Orpheum Theatre, said the controversial singer grabbed his head, held his hips against it and gyrated. The incident allegedly took place October 27th, 2000, during the first show of MANSON's Guns, God and Government tour. The suit also names MANSON's touring company, Jimmy's Touring Inc. local security firm ABCXYZ Corp., of which Diaz was an employee and Vivendi Universal, the corporate owners of Universal Music Group, Interscope Records and Nothing Records. Diaz reportedly filed the suit because he's been the subject of ridicule and is considered 'a joke' by everyone who knows of the incident, according to his lawyer, James Kaster. 'What compels me to get involved is [Diaz's] sense of shame,' Kaster said. 'And this just ain't right. You just don't treat people that way, I don't care who you are. And frankly, a group of jurors in this state are going to be offended.'

WOLFEN SOCIETY, the much-talked-about project that in its early incarnation featured DARK FUNERAL's Lord Ahriman, ACHERON's Vincent Crowley, INCANTANTION's Kyle Severn and THE ELECTRIC HELLFIRE CLUB's Thomas Thorn &amp Ricktor Ravensbruck, will finally issue its debut MCD, entitled Conquer Divine, through No Fashion Records in Europe in January and House Of Death Records in the USA. In other news, Thomas Thorn (keyboards) and Ricktor Ravenbruck (guitars) have officially left the band for unspecified reasons, with Thorn having been replaced by ACHERON's Aaron Werner and the group currently on the lookout for a new lead guitarist. In related news, after two long years of silence, ACHERON has returned with a brand new 7-inch release, entitled Xomaly, which is available through Italy's Warlord Records (www.warlordrecords.com). The band also has a South American show scheduled for December 8th, 2001 in Caracas, Venezuela at Teatro Sala Cadafe with special guests STRATUZ and LEAVES.

According to former DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson, his current collaboration with ex-DOKKEN bandmate George Lynch on a brand new, as-yet-unnamed project “has been going so wonderful, I think we're both pleasantly surprised. We started working last week, and very quickly, things fell into that magic place we used to get to. It suddenly makes me remember the chemistry we've always had, and I say to myself, 'Wow, we really do have something together, maybe there are good reasons why we sold millions of records!' Something just happens while we're working, and the music goes up several notches and the intensity becomes all-consuming. Wait 'till you hear this. The music is very heavy and groove-oriented [that part reminds me of a 2002 version of vintage LYNCH MOB], but it's soulfully melodic. This first song we're doing even has a huge ending that reminds me of the BEATLES, or 'Still Of the Night' by WHITESNAKE—it's so cool! And you won't believe George's playing- it's giving me goosebumps again—every note! I'll tell you, no one makes a guitar speak the way he does when he's locked in. And the grooves, they just kill [thanx to Tommy the groove master!] Don't wanna give too much away, or speak too soon, but I really think this will truly be our finest work to date.” Pilson also addressed the recent comments made by DOKKEN mainman about the bassist that were of a less-than-complimentary nature, stating simply that “I know Don has said a lot of derogatory things about me lately, and has posted quite a few negative sounding things, but I don't think we have to respond with negativity. It's only natural, in these situations, that people say things like that. But it just seems unnecessary to respond in a way that promotes antagonism. I really appreciate all the support, but let's remember this is just music. Look on the positive side of things. I'm happier than I've ever been right now. LOTS of great new music coming out [including, I'm sure, the DOKKEN record], and if the split with the band hadn't happened, I'm sure George and I wouldn't have taken this opportunity to record yet. And that's going to be the sweet icing on this rokken cake! So let's all lighten up, have some fun, and please have the best of holidays and a wonderful new year!”

FOO FIGHTERS will appear on The Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, January 10th.

Acclaimed Norwegian rock'n'rollers TURBONEGRO reunite for a live performance at Norway's Quart Festival in July, according to the group's official web site. Band leader/bassist Thomas Seltzer (aka Happy-Tom) reportedly told the paper that “among the bands that played on last year's Quart Festival there were three that did TURBONEGRO covers: QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, THE HIVES and MAYHEM. Since then the organizers of Quart have approached us. And after an offer with the appropriate amount of money, we were convinced.' Although presently unconfirmed, it appears likely that the reunited group will make further appearances at various gigs around Europe. 'We have received lucrative offers from Germany, Italy and Sweden as well' stated Happy-Tom. TURBONEGRO played their last show on December 18th, 1998 at Mars in their hometown of Oslo.

As reported by Digital Metal, RED HARVEST's forthcoming studio album, which is currently being recorded at Akkerhaugen Studios (i.e. EMPEROR, MYRKSKOG) with famed producer Neil Kernon (i.e. QUEENSRYCHE, NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE),is tentatively titled Sick Transit Gloria Mundi, and it will contain 11 songs, including an as-yet-unspecified cover of cult industrialists GGFH. According to mainman Ketil Eggum (aka Selveste Turbonatas),the follow-up to last year's celebrated Cold Dark Matter effort is a 'really heavy one' and an 'industrial paranoiametal for Feinschmeckers. If you can imagine a mixture of VOIVOD, LAIBACH, NEUROSIS and GGFH you should get the point.' Eggum also said producer Kernon was mildly amused about RED HARVEST's after-studio activities, which includes wiling away time at a local trailerpark called Beaver Island. A video for the track 'AEP' has also been completed and will be included as a CD-ROM on the album.

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Among the titles that are set to appear on Sick Transit Gloria Mundi are the following:

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01. Weltschmertz

02. Godtech

03. CyberNaut

04. AEP

05. Humanoia

06. Sick Transit Gloria Mundi

07. Beyond The End

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In other news, British musician Matt J. (Void) has remixed two tracks ('Fix, Hammer, Fix' and 'Junk-O-Rama') from the aforementioned Cold Dark Matter opus for possible release via a limited edition version of Sick Transit Gloria Mundi or as a separate CD. Sick Transit Gloria Mundi is due out in spring 2002.

DANGER DANGER drummer Steve West and guitarist Bruno Ravel will be appearing on The Tour Bus via WDHA 105.5 or online at www.thetourbus.com this Saturday, December 8th. The show starts at 8:00 PM EST.

Unconfirmed rumors are suggesting that the newly re-united BURN, featuring former members of GLASSJAW and ORANGE 9MM, have disbanded as a result of a decision made by frontman Chaka Malik to leave the group. BURN recently released an album, entitled Cleanse, through Equal Vision Records.

Germany's FREEDOM CALL are scheduled to enter the studio on January 4th to begin recording their as-yet-untitled next effort, which is tentatively scheduled for a late summer release. The drum tracks are due to be laid down at the Hamburg studio of GAMMA RAY mainman Kai Hansen, with the remainder of the sessions due to take place at an as-yet-undisclosed location in Germany. According to an official statement from the group, the upcoming CD—the group's first with 22-year-old ex-SYMPHORCE axeman Cedric Dupont (who replaced Sascha Gerstner back in August)—will likely contain 11 songs, including a cover of the old WISHFUL THINKING song 'Hiroshima” (originally recorded in 1970). In other news, FREEDOM CALL have acquired a new keyboardist for touring purposes by the name of Ferdy Doernberg.

EXHORDER/FLOODGATE frontman Kyle Thomas has joined forces with members of Lousiana's RIGID and WEEDEATER in an IRON MAIDEN tribute band called POWERSLAVE, which is scheduled to perform at Zeppelin's in Metairie on Friday, December 21st. According to reports, the band will perform an “anthology of material” from IRON MAIDEN's self-titled first album through Powerslave.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

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SOILENT GREEN INVOLVED IN VAN CRASH, CANCEL REMAINDER OF 2001 TOUR

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SOILENT GREEN were involved in an early morning van crash on December 4th, causing numerous injuries and forcing the band to cancel its touring plans for the remainder of 2001. The band's van rolled 4 times shortly after 4 am (PST) in Eastern Washington on an icy, snow-covered stretch of highway. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

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Guitarist Brian Patton and bassist Scott Williams suffered broken bones in the shoulder area while the remaining members, vocalist Benjamin Falgoust, drummer Tommy Buckley and crew escaped with minor injuries. The band has cancelled their remaining dates as part of the Extreme Music For Extreme People Tour to return home and begin the recovery process.

German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER have signed a book deal with Hannibal Publishing that will result in the publication of an official GRAVE DIGGER biography in April. The first version of the book will only be available in the German language, but the band are hoping to issue an English version as soon as possible as well. According to an official statement from the group, “the biography will not be a sort of revenge on older members or record companies, it will be a description of the funny experiences during the last 21 years band history.”

GRAVES, the new band of former MISFITS vocalist Michale Graves, drummer Dr. Chud, guitarist Tom Logan, and ex-FAST TIMES bassist Graham Westfield, have made available for download two demo tracks in MP3 form via the following locations:

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01. Casket

02. Ophelia

The UK's ONE MINUTE SILENCE have completed work on 17 songs for their upcoming third full-length album, which they are planning on recording early next year for a late 2001 release through V2 Records. Working song titles include the following:

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01. In The Boat

02. We Bounce Back

03. Come And Get It

04. A to Z Revolution

05. Smash My Head Against It

06. And Kicking

07. Who's Got Your Back

08. I Wear My Skin

09. The Shark Song

10. F.ck You

11. Fistful Of Nothing

12. Four Minute Men

13. You So Much As Move

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The as-yet-untitled ONE MINUTE SILENCE album will be produced by Scrap 60 Productions, who had previously worked with DRY KILL LOGIC, 36 CRAZYFISTS, ILL NINO, and PRIMER 55, among others.

Swedish AORsters STREET TALK will enter the studio in February to start the work on their third CD, featuring vocal contributions from Göran Edman (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOHN NORUM, KHARMA) and Hugo (ex-OPEN SKYZ, VALENTINE). According to the band, the material will be slightly more up-tempo and harder-edged compared to their previous CDs, and is scheduled for release via MTM Music in Europe in September.

Irish “hypnotic doom metal” act MOURNING BELOVETH are still in the process of writing the material for their second album, tentatively entitled My Sullen Sulkus, which is scheduled to be recorded in April 2002 for a late 2002 release through an as-yet-undetermined label. The band will reportedly will be working with producer Magz and plan to spend between 10 and 14 days recording.

TITAN FORCE (featuring Harry Conklin of JAG PANZER),POWERGOD and WIZARD will play a club show on June 27th—the day before first day of the Bang Your Head Festival—near the town of Balingen, Germany.

Swedish pop-punkers MILLENCOLIN will issue their new CD, entitled Home From Home, via Burning Heart Records in Europe on March 11th and Epitaph Records in the USA on March 12th. According to an official press release from Epitaph, Home From Home is “the most diverse record from MILLENCOLIN ever! From new hard-hitting tracks to classic 'MILLEN-sounding' tracks, Home From Home explores the depth of this band's musical talents. From the first track this CD slams a treble hook in you ear and doesn't let go!”

Midwest metal-hardcore masters COALESCE have reformed. According to vocalist Sean Ingram, the reformed group will be “touring next spring. This is not a 'we are thinking about it' [announcement], this is 'we'll post the dates when they are confirmed' [statement].”

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